In the Nandikotkur Assembly constituency of Nandyal district, Andhra Pradesh, farmer Rajareddy from the village of Parumanchala is impressing everyone with his idea of cultivating a unique fruit. He has reportedly started cultivating dragon fruit on his 6 acres of land. He owns a land of 20 acres, out of which he dedicated some land for farming dragon fruit. For the past three years, he made significant progress in cultivating this fruit overcoming various challenges. In an Interview with Local 18, Rajareddy shared some insights on dragon fruit farming, especially in the rainy season. He mentioned that the crops are currently in the fruiting stage, so special care needs to be taken. He noted that during the monsoon season, the crops are particularly very vulnerable to pests and insects. When the plants are in the flowering stage, these pests and insects can cause various diseases, affecting both the flowers and the developing fruits.
“During the summer season, the flowers usually dry up, but during the monsoon, the plants remain green and can easily attract ants, mosquitoes, and other pests. These pests can cause blemishes on the fruits, making them unsellable,” he said. When told to give some advice to other farmers, Rajareddy said, “To protect the fruits during the rainy season, it is very crucial to remove the unripe fruits. One more thing that is very important is to manage the water content carefully.”
He emphasised that dragon fruit plants should not be overwatered and water should be provided in moderation. Overwatering the plants can damage them. The roots also get affected if someone overwaters the plant. He added, “The farmers should water the plant appropriately, providing less water in black soil and slightly more in red soil. By taking these precautions the farmers can protect the plants and the fruits during the rainy season.” He added that through this interview he wants to advise all the farmers who are engaged in the cultivation of dragon fruit.
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