Want to do Dragon fruit farming in Kenya? If yes, then we can assist you in this. Firstly we have to know, what is dragon fruit? So, here is the information about dragon fruit cultivation and its varieties.

Dragon fruit comes from the ornamental climbing vines and Cactaceae species. The taste of this fruit is delicately sweet but crunchy, and it looks alluring with its green scales and pink skin. The fruit was named dragon fruit because of its scaly appearance, similar to a dragon scaly. The size of this fruit is 6-12 cm, and its shape is oval. It has white pulp, which is filled with black edible seeds. So, if you are looking forward to practising commercial dragon fruit cultivation, then you are at the perfect place!

The highest production of this fruit where less rainfall is expected. Therefore, you can treat the dragon fruit plant as an ornamental climbing vine and fruit-producing plant. Apart from this, the uses of this fruit are: to consume it as fresh fruit or production of jams, fruit juice, ice creams, jelly, wine and face packs. The different types of names of this fruit are Pitaya, Pitahaya, queen of the night, strawberry pear and noblewoman throughout the world.

How to Farm Dragon Fruit in Kenya

Let’s talk about how to cultivate dragon fruit in Kenya. In this, we will let you know about

  • Climate requirements for dragon fruit farming
  • Suitable soil for dragon fruit cultivation
  • Dragon fruit agriculture land preparation
  • Dragon fruit plantation method
  • Training of the dragon fruit plant
  • dragon fruit fertiliser and manure
  • dragon fruit Irrigation
  • Pests and diseases
  • Dragon fruit harvesting

So, let’s begin knowing how to start a dragon fruit farm. Also, where does dragon fruit grow and others?

Climate Requirements For Dragon Fruit Farming

This fruit plant grows in poor soil conditions and temperature variations. So, the tropical climate conditions are perfect for dragon fruit farming. The ideal annual rainfall for Protected Cultivation is 50 cm. The temperature for dragon fruit cultivation must be between 20 °C to 30 °C. The dragon fruit plants can not wear too much sunlight. So if you want to cultivate it in a high sunlight area, just do it by providing shading.

Soil requirements for Dragon Fruit Cultivation

You can grow this fruit in different types of soil, from sandy loam to clay loam. However, the ideal soil for its cultivation is sandy soils with good organic matter and a perfect drainage system. The pH of 5.5 to 7 is best for dragon fruit farming.

Dragon Fruit Agriculture Land Preparation

You have to plough the field until the soil achieves its fine tilth and is weed-free. After that, you should apply any type of organic compost in a proportionate ratio.

Dragon Fruit Plantation Method in Kenya

The most common dragon fruit propagation method is cuttings. However, you can also propagate it by seeds. But the seeds take a long time and will not continue their mother plant characteristics. That’s why the seeds method is not suitable if you are the owner of a commercial dragon fruit farm. So, if you want complete advantages of dragon fruit farming, you should use the plant cuttings from the quality mother plant. You should use the 20 cm cuttings for planting in the field. Moreover, you have to pile up cuttings 2 days before the plantation.

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Now you can plant them with a mixture of dry cow dung. You should keep the plant to plant distance of 2 meters x 2 meters. You have to dig 60 cm x 60 cm x 60 cm for the size of the pits. In addition, you have to fill these pits with topsoil and manure, including 100 grams of superphosphate. You can accommodate about 1700 plants in 1 acre of land.

Training of the Dragon Fruit Plant

To get the huge dragon fruit farming profit or proper plant growth, you should give support of concrete or wooden columns. You have to tie Immature plants with these columns. To maintain the dragon shrub, you have to use a round/circular metal frame.

Dragon Fruit Fertiliser and Manure

For the good growth and development of the dragon fruit plant, organic manure plays a crucial role. You have to treat each plant with a minimum of 10 to 15 Kg of organic compost. After that, you have to increase the manure by 2 kg per year. Along with the organic, it also needs inorganic fertilisers to give good vegetative growth. The fertiliser ratio for vegetative stage is muriate of potash:superphosphate:urea = 40:90:70 grams /plant.

You also have to give a high amount of potash and a low amount of nitrogen at the fruit-bearing stage. Different types of fertilisers should be applied in the flowering to harvesting stages, including Urea:superphosphate:muriate of potash = 50:50:100 grams/plant. This solution can be given just before flowering, fruit developing, and after harvesting. It can increase the productivity of your dragon fruit farm.

Dragon Fruit Irrigation

This plant requires less water in comparison to others. So, you can irrigate it frequently during the planting, flowering & fruit development stages and hot/dry climate conditions. For effective water usage, you can use drip irrigation.

Pests and Diseases

This is the highest benefit in this farming in that it has no pests or diseases. So, you do not treat the plants with other chemicals. Therefore, it reduces the dragon fruit cultivation cost per acre.

Dragon Fruit Harvesting

Dragon fruit starts appearing on the plants in the first year. From Aug to Dec month, it bears the fruits, and fruits are ready for harvesting after one month of flowering. Apart from this, the flowering time continues till December. Picking up these fruits can be done up to 6 times within this period. When the fruits turn red, it is the best time for harvesting. The ideal time for harvesting is after 3 to 4 days of colour change. On the other hand, you should harvest them after 1 day of colour change for exporting. You can get 5 to 6 tonnes of production per acre.

Health Benefits of Dragon Fruit

Dragon fruit contains several health benefits along with a delicately sweet taste. Let’s have an eye on the following benefits.

1. High in Nutrients

Dragon fruit has several nutrients, which helps people to stay fit and healthy. So, the nutrients are:

  • Calories: 136
  • Protein: 3 grams
  • Fibre: 7 grams
  • Iron: 8% of the RDI
  • Fat: 0 grams
  • Carbohydrates: 29 grams
  • Vitamin E: 4% of the RDI
  • Magnesium: 18% of the RDI
  • Vitamin C: 9% of the RDI

2. Fight Chronic Disease

Dragon Fruit has several types of potent antioxidants. And antioxidants neutralise free radicals to prevent cell damage and inflammation.

  • Vitamin C     : Studies have found vitamin C intake reduces the cancer risk.
  • Betalains      : Betalains can combat oxidative stress and can suppress cancer cells.
  • Carotenoids : Carotenoids have the ability to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.
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3. Good Source of Fibre

Health authorities say to take 38 grams of fibre for men and 25 grams for women per day. However, fibre is renowned for its role in digestion. It is also valuable for minimising heart diseases, managing type 2 diabetes, reducing the risk of colon cancer and maintaining healthy body weight.

4. Strengthens Immune System

Your Immune System (the body’s ability to fight infection) depends on different factors, including your diet quality. The dragon fruit may boost your body’s ability to fight infection and prevent disease as it has vitamin C and carotenoids. It can also protect your white blood cells from damage.

5. Keeps a Healthy Gut

The community of microorganisms can impact your health, and imbalances in your gut can promote the risk of asthma and heart disease. So, you can consume dragon fruit as it contains prebiotics. It can balance good bacteria in your gut.

6. Boost Low Iron Levels

Dragon fruit is an iron-containing fruit. The work of iron is to transport oxygen throughout the body. It also plays a vital role in breaking the food into energy.

7. Good Source of Magnesium

Dragon fruit offers magnesium around 18% of your RDI (Recommended Dietary Intake) in just one cup. In addition, your body contains 24g of magnesium.

Importance of Dragon Fruit

Following are some other importance of dragon fruit.

  • Helps in lowering cholesterol
  • Helps in weight management
  • High in fats and proteins
  • Good source of antioxidants
  • Helps in preventing arthritis
  • Helps in improving heart health
  • High in vitamins & minerals
  • Helps in fighting against ageing
  • Helps in preventing asthma

Dragon Fruit Varieties

Several dragon fruit types are available, which are cultivated across the world.

1. Hylocereus Undatus

Its other name is Pitahaya and has white flesh with pink skin. The fruit has 6-12 cm length, 4-9 cm thickness and edible black seeds. It is famous among types of dragon fruit.

2. Hylocereus Polyrhizus

Red Pitaya is the other name of this variety, and has red flesh with its pink skin. The native country of this variety is Mexico, but now it is available in many countries. This variety is profitable among different types of dragon fruit varieties.

3. Hylocereus Costaricencis

The other name of this variety is Costa Rican Pitaya, native to Costa Rica. It has violet-red flesh and pink skin, and its fruits are magenta, and the seeds are pear-shaped. You can easily cultivate this variety of dragon fruit in Kenya.

4. Hylocereus (Selenicereus) Megalanthus

It’s native to South America and renowned for its white flesh with yellow skin. It looks beautiful among other dragon fruit varieties.

How to Eat Dragon Fruit

While the thick and leathery skin of dragon fruit can be intimidating, eating it is pretty simple. Unripe dragon fruit will be green, so look for the bright red one. Some spots are usual, but too many spots indicate overripe. A ripe dragon fruit must not be mushy like avocado or kiwi.

Let’s know how to eat dragon fruit.

  • Take a sharp knife to cut the fruit in half lengthwise.
  • Scoop out white pulp with a spoon.
  • You can cut the pulp into cubes without cutting into the peel.
  • Push on the back of the skin to expose the cubes.
  • Now, you can enjoy it or add it to salads.
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Dragon Fruit Cultivation Bottom Line

You should prepare a dragon fruit business plan to start this farming. In this, you can include dragon fruit cultivation cost per acre, where dragon fruit is grown, where to sell dragon fruit in India and other factors.  Moreover, it is profitable farming. So if you are going to do it commercially, just do it.

Frequently Asked Questions for Dragon Fruit Farming

Que. Where is dragon fruit grown?

Ans. Dragon fruit is grown in tropical conditions and places where less rainfall is expected.

Que. Where to sell dragon fruit in Kenya?

Ans. You can sell dragon fruits in the domestic market like city market, highridge and supermarkets.

Que. How to cultivate dragon fruit?

Ans. Make a dragon fruit business plan and cultivate it easily.

Que. How long does the dragon fruit plant take to bear fruit?

Ans. Dragon fruit plants bear fruits in the first year.

Credit

FRUIT FARMING SERVICES IN KENYA


We provide technical support on fruit farming in Kenya. Our Sales Team with technically qualified staff provide after sales service and farmers' advisory services to our customers to get better plant establishment and faster growth of fruit orchard and plantations.

We have a large network of employees who arrange delivery of seedlings to customers at their various destinations from Nairobi. Free technical services to customers on planting method, management practices and plant protection measures. Our team of Agricultural Experts periodically visits and supervise plantations and suggest necessary guidelines to get better growth and higher returns.

The income & expenditure projections indicated by Farmers Trend is normally an approximate figure, as it also depends on the nature and hard work of the farmer.

Our Services

1. This includes soil testing, seedlings purchase guidance, consultancy, farm preparation guidance and transportation.
2. First production on most fruit trees start after 2nd year and production remains for next several years.

Packages

1. We offer special tailored packages per acre on Hass Avocado, Macadamia, Oranges, Mangoes and Apples
2. This packages consist of a well drafted win win situation between the farmer and Farmers Trend
3. Where a farmer provides a) Land b) Preparation of land, c) Soil Analysis d) Manure and any other recommendation as per soil analysis e) Irrigation
4. And, Farmers Trend provide a) Hole digging using recommended spacing b) Soil and manure mixing plus refilling c) Seedlings enough for an acre as recommended d) 3 months monitoring 
5) Each fruit package has its own cost depending on site survey

GIVE US A CALL TO ENJOY THIS BENEFITS VIA 0724-559286

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