Odisha: Dragon fruit to wean farmers away from ganja cultivation

BERHAMPUR: To discourage tribals from taking up ganja cultivation, the Kandhamal district administration has launched a drive to promote dragon fruit cultivation, particularly in Maoist-hit areas, where the contraband was earlier grown.
In the first phase, the administration planted dragon fruit on around eight acres of land in Bedakheta village in Phiringia block with help of local farmers.

“The aim is to improve the livelihood of tribals, divert villagers from illegal cannabis cultivation and eradicate the activities of the left-wing extremists,” said collector (Kandhamal) Ashish Ishwar Patil.
MLA (Phulbani) Angada Kanhar launched the drive by planting dragon fruit plants in the presence of several officials at the sites where ganja was being cultivated earlier.
The project was taken up under the Special Central Assistance (SCA), Mission Jeevika of the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), Phulbani and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.
Dragon fruits are exotic perennial climbers and have become popular among fruit lovers. It possesses high economic value and several health benefits. “The yield will be around four tonnes per acre and plants start producing after two years. The cultivator can earn from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 4 lakh per acre per year,” said P.Murali Mohan, project manager of ITDA.
He said the climate of Kandhamal is suitable for cultivation of dragon fruits. Initially, we procured 8,000 high-yielding dragon fruit cuttings from Hyderabad for cultivation in Bedakheta and Sindingia. “We will plant the dragon fruits in some more areas to strengthen the economic condition of tribals ,” said Naresh Chandra Sabar, project administrator, ITDA, Phulbani.