The cultivation of dragon fruit is picking up among Indian farmers. In Hassan, the fruits are grown on the roof as well. Vijay Angadi, an agriculture expert and program executive at AIR in Madikeri, has grown the fruit on his terrace garden.
Angadi, known for popularising organic terrace gardens, planted a dragon fruit sapling two years ago. “The plant grew well. We got a few fruits in the first year. In the second year, the number of fruits has gone up and I added a few more plants,” he said.
He also suggested that people interested in earning money by selling dragon fruit can take up cultivation on the terrace. “On the roof of a house built on a 30×40 ft2 area, one can grow 30 plants. Within two years, one gets the yield and can earn up to ₹30,000 a year (€330), depending on the price in the market. Besides this, the grower can also sell plants. It adds to the family income,” he told thehindu.com.