Chandigarh, January 6 — Dragon fruit cultivation is steadily finding space in Punjab’s agricultural landscape, with farmers increasingly viewing it as a viable alternative to the traditional wheat–paddy cycle due to higher returns and lower water requirements.
The trend began in the state between 2016 and 2018 and gained momentum by 2023, particularly among progressive farmers. Barnala district has emerged as a leading centre, with dragon fruit now being cultivated on around 15 hectares of land.
“Dragon fruit offers better income stability compared to conventional crops, especially once the plants reach maturity,” an agriculture department official said. “The crop starts yielding fruit in about 14 months and reaches full production in two years.”
Farmers say the long productive life of the plant — which continues to bear fruit for several years after plantation — makes it economically attractive. The crop season runs from July to November, though market demand remains steady throughout the year.
Another advantage cited by growers is water efficiency. “Dragon fruit requires nearly one percent of the water used for paddy cultivation, which makes it suitable in the present context,” the official said.
Besides Barnala, dragon fruit cultivation has expanded to districts such as Jalandhar, Patiala, Ludhiana and Gurdaspur. Several varieties, including Red Dragon-1, White Dragon-1 and American Beauty, are being grown in the state.
Officials said the crop also allows intercropping, enabling farmers to earn additional income. “Subsidiary crops can be grown alongside dragon fruit, further improving farm economics,” the official added.
