Everyone will remember the lockdown of the Corona period. The time of Covid was no less than a disaster for anyone, and some people even converted the disaster into an opportunity. One such story is of Rituraj Singh of Bijnor. Who decided to stay at home and do farming during the Corona period. Nowadays, they are earning up to Rs 10 lakh annually sitting at home. Let us know the success story of that Bijnor boy.
How did the idea of dragon fruit cultivation come about?
Had a special conversation with Rituraj of Bijnor from India Today. When India Today correspondent asked, why did a boy from a corporate job, earning Rs 65,000 every month, stay in the village when he came to his village during the Corona period? Answering this question, Rituraj said that when the lockdown was imposed during the Corona period, there was an atmosphere of fear all around in the big cities, but when I reached my village (Umri), I felt a different peace. I didn’t even realize when 3 months had passed since I felt the greenery, the sound of birds and the peace of the village in my village. Then one day the whole family was sitting together. Then my father said that I want to cultivate dragon fruit in my village, at this time I decided that I have to seek my future life and future in farming only and bring a revolution in the field of farming by doing organic farming.
Started farming with just three bighas of land
First of all, Rituraj started dragon fruit cultivation in the year 2020 with only three bighas of land. India Today asked Ruturaj that when you started dragon fruit cultivation, how much did it cost to own three bighas of land? On this, Ruturaj told that to cultivate dragon fruit in a field of three bighas, an investment of at least Rs 5 to 6 lakh is required. In this, the biggest expenditure is on cement poles because dragon fruit moves like a vine, hence cement poles have to be installed in the field. Now in the year 2024, Rituraj Singh is increasing the cultivation of dragon fruit on 6 bighas of land from 3 bighas of land.
How much is earning on 6 bigha land?
When India Today team talked to Rituraj about his earnings, he told that when we started dragon fruit cultivation, the dragon fruit plantation was done in September 2020 and the crop of our field was ready in June 2021. In the year 2021, only 4 quintals of dragon fruit were grown from three bighas. Whose rate per kg is Rs 200. He earned a profit of only ₹80000 in 2021. In 2022, the dragon fruit crop doubled i.e. 8 quintals in three bighas, at the rate of Rs 220 per kg, Ruturaj got a net profit of Rs 1,76,000.
In the year 2023, 15 to 20 quintals of dragon fruit crop was produced in four bighas of land, in which Rituraj got a profit of Rs 4.5 to 5 lakhs. Whereas, in 2024, Rituraj grew a crop of 40 to 45 quintals, in which he earned about Rs 10 lakh. Rituraj also told India Today that if you want to cultivate dragon fruit, you have to wait for a few years to earn profits.
This method is used for irrigation
When India Today asked Rituraj, which irrigation system are you using for your farming? So on this Ruturaj told that we use drip irrigation, sprinklers and rain guns on our farm. Rituraj also told that through drip irrigation, there is a lot of water saving and due to drip irrigation, only as much water is stored in the tree as it needs, so that moisture remains.
In which month is dragon fruit sown?
Rituraj told that the months from February to October are best for sowing dragon fruit. A temperature of 25 to 30 degrees is considered suitable for its cultivation.
Where do you sell your crops?
While talking to India Today, Rituraj said that we have created our own local market. The entire crop is sold in the local market and the remaining produce is sold to a buyer in Gurgaon.