Horticulture department visits Dragon Fruit farm

Kohima, October 1 (MExN): The Horticulture department of Nagaland made a maiden visit to the Dream Dragon Fruit Farm in Shitovi village of Dimapur district on September 30. Owned by Lucy Ngullie Thomas, the farm is the first farm where exotic Dragon Fruit is produced and sold on demand only, according to a press release from the Horticulture department.  

Dragon Fruit is an exotic fruit in India and its cultivation has not attained commercial production yet. The fruit is famous in Thailand, Vietnam, Israel and Sri Lanka, the release said, adding in India, commercial cultivation of the fruit is picking up and in Nagaland some farmers and fruit lovers have initiated its cultivation.  

Lucy Ngullie has been growing red, white and yellow Dragon Fruits since 2013 besides other exotic fruits. The 5 hectares Dream Dragon Fruit Farm is well maintained and adopts all technical cultural practices, it was informed. It is the only dragon fruit farm in the NER which has healthy well maintained mother plants of red and white varieties producing cuttings for sales and propagation. The Dream Dragon Fruit Farm is an Accredited Nursery with 1 Star rating and the owner is now capable to produce and sell Dragon Fruit cuttings to interested farmers throughout the country, the release added.  

While appreciating the excellent achievement of the exotic fruit cultivation and nursery development by Lucy Nugllie, N. Amos, Ao, Director of Horticulture during the visit assured all possible support from the department in future.  

After interacting with the owner of the farm about the successful adaptation and its productive cultivation of the exotic fruit in Shitovi village, the Director and other senior officers of the department discussed about the scope and cultivation of Dragon Fruit in the plains and foothills area of the state, for which, the department will initiate proposal to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the press release said.