why is karnataka called the knowledge bank for cultivation of dragon fruit
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Answer:
In the State, dragon fruit plots have come up in places such as Lakshmeshwara, Bagalkot, Dakshina Kannada, Tumakuru, Belagavi, Vijayapura, Kalaburagi, Shivamogga, Mysuru, Bengaluru etc. While retired engineer Jaffer Kutty has grown this fruit in one acre in Hiriyur, farmer Narayanaswamy of Chikkaballapura has cultivated the crop in nine acres. Most of these first-generation dragon fruit growers have harvested twice by now and are convinced about its viability as a crop. Many of these farmers have accessed information from the internet and growers in other states. Less water requirement and low-sugar content are the two aspects that have made the fruit appealing to both farmers and consumers.
Understanding the possibilities, Central Horticultural Experiment Station (CHES) at Hirehalli in Tumakuru district has been promoting the crop. “It is one of the four crops — the other three being jackfruit, avocado and tamarind — identified for research and propagation in the region. We have cultivated white-fleshed and red-fleshed dragon fruits in the centre’s farm,” says Dr G Karunakaran, head of the station. He sees better prospects for red-fleshed ones because of their colour and taste. Karunakaran emphasises that though it is popular as an easy- to-grow crop, proper care and maintenance is essential to get a good yield.
Unlike other fruit crops, dragon fruit starts yielding early. While the first harvest can be done after 15 months, optimal production happens only after three years. The harvest season is between May and September. The average yield per acre is around five tonnes.
This low-maintenance crop requires an initial investment of around Rs four and five lakh per acre. The plants, which are a type of climbing cacti, are grown on concrete or stone pillars. Different types of support frames and trellises are being experimented to ensure the proper growth of branches. Around 1,800 plants can be grown on 450 pillars in one acre.
At CHES, it is grown with organic inputs and drip irrigation. Karunakaran specifies that this is a photosensitive species and hence requires appropriate sunlight. This sun-loving plant flowers during the night. Even though it is a self-pollinating plant, it is better to do assisted pollination to ensure 100% fruit setting.
Dragon fruit, now cultivated as a monocrop, is not free from pests or diseases, but the occurrence is said to be less. While there are attempts to grow vegetables as intercrops to ensure sustainability, CHES is contemplating the combination of coconut and dragon fruit.
Unlike other fruit crops, dragon fruit starts yielding early. While the first harvest can be done after 15 months, optimal production happens only after three years. The harvest season is between May and September. The average yield per acre is around five tonnes. Almost all the growers are marketing the produce directly, mainly to supermarket chains, and are getting a price of around Rs 80 to Rs 100 per kg.
Though now the entire harvest gets consumed in nearby cities, the growers are not yet sure about the market once the production reaches its full potential. Since the home-grown dragon fruits are said to be more sweet and tasty than imported ones, they feel that there would not be a need to import fruits once the required quantity is grown locally.
Explanation:
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Karnataka is called the knowledge bank for the cultivation of dragon fruit because the state has got a number of plots of dragon fruit cultivation.
Explanation:
- There are many places in the state involved in the cultivation of dragon fruit. There are people who stood successful in growing these fruits in only one acre along with a few more farmers growing in a few small plot of land.
- The weather and soil conditions are favourable. Moreover, less water requirement and low sugar content made the fruit highly appealing to farmers.
- There involves low maintenance which also helps the farmers took up the cultivation of dragon fruit on a large scale while the government is also playing a major role in promoting the crop.
Learn more about dragon fruit cultivation
How can you say that dragon fruit cultivation has become popular
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Farmers need to look for.
.....before experimenting with dragon fruit cultivation
6) land
water
(in) market
(iv)
fairs
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