Tanahu :  Kalpana Gauli, a farmer from Vyas Municipality-5, earned Rs 1.6 million from selling dragon fruit last year.

Gauli generated this income from 2,100 dragon fruit plants cultivated on nine ropanis of land.

She mentioned that her family is busy picking and selling dragon fruits from Asar to Mangsir months.

Registering the firm ‘Ma Ambe Alaukik Agriculture Farm,’ they began commercial dragon fruit farming by bringing saplings from Hyderabad, India, in 2079 BS.

The saplings were planted on nine ropanis of land leased for 20 years.

Gauli shared that they pay Rs 20,000 per month as rent, and they expect to sell dragon fruits worth two million rupees this year.

The tropical fruit can be harvested for six months starting from Asar.

Last year, Gauli harvested 35 kg of dragon fruits in the first batch and 1,000 kg each in the second and third batches.

Most of the fruit is sold directly from the farm, with the remainder being sold to fruit and vegetable vendors in Damauli.

The fruit, rich in fibers and antioxidants, is mostly consumed within the district.

It sells for Rs 500 to 700 per kg.

Students from schools and colleges, teachers, locals, government employees, and representatives of various organizations visit the farm to learn about dragon fruit farming, which is relatively new in this district.