ILAM, July 13: Seven years ago, Prabin Ingnam planted dragon fruit on just three katthas of land to test whether the crop would thrive. Today, his farm has grown into one of Ilam's largest dragon fruit orchards, earning him around Rs 1.2 million annually.
The farmer from Chulachuli Rural Municipality, Ward No. 3, now spends most of his day tending to his orchard at Village Agro Farm. He grows 2,800 Malaysian red dragon fruit plants across two bighas of land, including 38 katthas leased for cultivation.
"This year's production is expected to increase, so I hope my income will also rise," Ingnam said.
Encouraged by strong yields and low production costs, he gradually expanded his farm from the initial three katthas.
"I started on a small scale as a trial. Once I saw good production, I kept expanding. I plan to increase the area further next year," he said.
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Marketing has not been a challenge. Traders buy the fruit directly from his farm, and the harvest is supplied to Birtamod and Damak in Jhapa, Urlabari in Morang, and Ilam Bazaar.
Depending on size, the fruit sells for between Rs 200 and Rs 500 per kilogram at the farm.
"I never worry about finding buyers. Traders come directly to the orchard," he said.
The farm has also created local employment. Besides working full-time himself, Ingnam employs five workers.
"It feels satisfying to be self-employed while also creating jobs for others," he said.
Ingnam said he chose commercial farming to prove that young people do not have to leave Nepal to earn a decent living.
"If you work consistently and adopt modern farming methods, it is possible to make a good income while staying in your own village," he said.
His success has inspired other farmers in the area to move away from traditional crops and invest in dragon fruit, which requires relatively less labor while offering higher returns.
One of them is Mayatimaya Limbu of Chulachuli, Ward No. 2. She began commercial dragon fruit farming six years ago after registering Chhathare Dragon Fruit Farm.
She now grows 650 plants on eight katthas of leased land. All of the plants are producing fruit.
"The investment is modest, production is good, and the returns are better than traditional crops," Limbu said. After deducting expenses, she earns about Rs 125,000 a year and plans to expand the farm.
The local government has also supported dragon fruit cultivation. Ingnam received a Rs 400,000 grant from Chulachuli Rural Municipality in the 2023/24 fiscal year, while Limbu received a Rs 250,000 grant on a 50 percent cost sharing basis from the Agriculture Knowledge Center in Ilam.
Chulachuli Rural Municipality Chair Rajendra Kerung said agriculture remains the municipality's top priority and pledged continued support for farmers through incentive programs and budget allocations.
Dragon fruit farming is expanding beyond Chulachuli into Mai Municipality, Rong Rural Municipality, Maijogmai Rural Municipality, and southern parts of Ilam Municipality as more farmers turn to the high-value crop.
