In Himachal Pradesh, new initiatives in the fields of horticulture and agriculture are currently showing promise. By successfully growing dragon fruit and departing from conventional agricultural methods, Prem Chand, a forward-thinking farmer from Thaur village in Jukain Gram Panchayat, under the Sarkaghat subdivision of Mandi district, has set a new standard for the area.
800 Plants on 2.5 Bighas of Land
In 2024, farmer Prem Chand planted 800 plants of the Maharashtra-sourced “Jumbo Red” variety of dragon fruit on his 2.5 bighas of land under the expert supervision of the Horticulture Department. In the first season of 2025, his diligence and the department’s assistance produced positive outcomes. Approximately two quintals of dragon fruit have been produced thus far by Prem Chand, who sold them in the market for between Rs. 250 and Rs. 300 per kilogram. From this first harvest, he has made about Rs. 50,000.
According to Prem Chand, he used to engage in traditional farming, but the earnings were insignificant in comparison to the work required. He started growing dragon fruit after being inspired by the Horticulture Department. To do this, he prepared raised beds, leveled his fields, and supported the plants with trellises. Notably, he uses no artificial pesticides or fertilizers and only engages in natural farming. In his fields, papayas, custard apples, and dragon fruit are all thriving. Arjun Sharma, his son, is actively supporting him in this attempt as well.
Premchand’s success has been largely attributed to government initiatives. He was approved a total subsidy of ₹62,000 for dragon fruit production under the Horticulture Department’s “Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture” (MIDH) plan, of which the first installment of ₹38,000 has already been received. Under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (Prime Minister’s Agricultural Irrigation Scheme), he also received an 80% discount (₹20,000) on the ₹25,000 cost of building a drip irrigation system.
Dragon fruit is a cactus-related crop that thrives in areas with temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius, according to Dr. Anil Thakur, a subject matter expert in Sarkaghat. The government is giving farmers a subsidy of up to ₹3,37,500 per hectare in two installments as part of the area expansion program. Additionally, the government offers subsidies for contemporary irrigation systems. According to Horticulture Development Officer Dr. Vipin, farmers like Premchand have demonstrated that even small pieces of land can yield a respectable income when departmental programs and the appropriate technology are combined. For farmers in the area, dragon fruit is now becoming a viable source of income.
