A joint agricultural company of Pakistan-China has cultivated dragon fruit on the previously arid coastal field near Karachi and is taking the products to the Pakistani markets.
The company began four years ago when Tiantian Farm, a Chinese company, associated with another Chinese firm and three Pakistani local collaborators. Its objective was to convert 48 hectares of saline and alkaline land, just three kilometers from the sea, into productive cultivation lands using Chinese land rehabilitation techniques. What was once considered inappropriate for agriculture is now to support the cultivation of high -grade dragons.
Today, the farm is actively cultivated in 20 hectares, with a plan to increase the area for additional five hectares every three to five months. During the high season, almost 50 local workers are used, contributing to rural media and strengthening community participation.
The harvested fruit is supplied through local supermarkets and specialized points of sale and is transported through Pakistan through national airlines. In addition, the fruit is finding a niche in the Pakistan drink industry, especially in bubble tea stores.
Tiantian Farm has been operating dragon fruits initiatives in Pakistan since 2018 and maintains a culture base of eight hectares in Lahore. Beyond production, the company has distributed offspring, facilitated the propagation of seedlings and provided training both farmers and scientific researchers.
The students of the University of Punjab Excellence in Molecular Biology visited the Karachi farm to observe the first -hand cultivation methods.
The varieties that are grown include Hongxin (red meat), Bairou (white meat), Huanglong (yellow dragon), Jindu and Dahong 3, all commercial cultivars recognized in China. Project leadership also markets in internationally cultured Pakistani dragon fruit samples, aimed at buyers in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Central Asia. Early feedback has been favorable.
The Management sees additional potential in processed products such as dry fruit juices and snacks, which believe they could significantly increase the export value and open new sources of income for the agricultural sector of Pakistan.
This initiative demonstrates how modern agricultural techniques and cross -border cooperation can transform the marginal land and introduce new high value crops. It also underlines opportunities for Pakistan to diversify its horticultural production and integrate into regional and global processed fruit markets.
Read: Farmers push for dragon fruits cultivation
After successfully reaping dragon fruits for the first time in Sindh, progressive farmers believe that exporting varieties of dragon fruits could transform the national economy if done on a large scale.
The Express PAkGazette interviewed progressive farmers and researchers about the cultivation of dragons fruits, exploring aspects such as varieties, scope, trends, prices and agricultural techniques.
“I have cultivated around 7,000 plants in an acre, with plans to increase to 18,000 plants next year in almost three acres of land. I am expanding this starting business while providing consulting and services to other enthusiastic farmers. The common farmers and the large owners often doubt First to the first to those who doubt the commercial sewers in the first.
However, I am the only practitioner of high -density dragon agriculture in the country. I presented this technique, which is already being adopted in India. Dragon fruits were harvested in June 2023, marking my first harvest as a fire test to evaluate size, flavor and quality. Plants now gradually multiply through natural pollination.
Currently, the retail price in Pakistan varies between RS3,000/kg and RS2,000/kg in bulk. I made a sale of tests to a Karachi supermarket at the rate of RS1,700/kg, ”said Captain Rizwan Rehman, the progressive producer and owner of Dragon Dragon Fruit Farg and Nurserty Karachi.
He stressed that three fruiting cycles in one year begin from June to November in Pakistan. As for performance, the third year fruit of a average plant 7 kg. A farmer can generate income from around RS2 billion annually from an acre growing 8,000 plants in high density.
Rizwan emphasized that there is currently no export in the country due to high demand in Pakistan, and is not easily available. While exports will take time to develop, he believes that the national economy could significantly affect due to high demand and rates. He also pointed out that, unlike India, the Pakistani government does not provide support or subsidies for this industry.
“I am advocating for affection and promotion of dragon fruit farming in Pakistan. I have cultivated fruits at my pharm and nursery in gadap, karachi, boasting 80 varieties, including dark star, philippine purple, red rubi, siam red, royal red, Morocco red, orange prinkis, desert King, Aussie Gold, Taiwan Honey Red, Asunta Five, Red Rose, Vietnam White, and others.
Muhammad Rean, a small progressive farmer from Tando Allahyar, shared that he cultivated this fruit with 11 varieties in 2019 in a small piece of land and reaped a good fruit that weighed 320 to 330 grams in October.
Read more: Farmers begin to sow ‘golden grain’
Plan cultivate the dragon fruit at the commercial level and is in contact with Hyderabad farmers, Mirpur Khas, Sanghar, Matiari and others due to promising yields.
“The trend in fruit cultivation is changing to exotic fruits. Dragon Fruit is providing important returns of income to producers. We cultivate this elite fruits cultivation in Latif Farm of the Sau in March 2022 and fruits are harvested in October 2023. We have established 50 poles, with each pole that carries four floors. Initially, we establish an area of around 20-30 plants, and now we have a rich Elder of 1,000 plants, these plants, said plants, said plants, said plants, said plants, said, said plants, said noes of the plants of the plants of the two floors, now, worthy of the plants of the two plants, said NOES of the plants of the plants, now, worthy of the plants of the two plants of the plants. Sindh (SAU).
Agricultural researchers indicated that there are more than 250 varieties of dragon fruits, each with their own flavor similar to strawberry, kiwi, pineapple and others. They mentioned that dragon fruits varieties generally take about 18 months to produce fruit after planting, but can ripen before in the coastal areas of Karachi and Thatta due to adequate climatic conditions.
The cultivation of dragon fruits has the potential to significantly boost horticulture exports in Pakistan. The scope of dragon fruits cultivation is vast, and proves to be highly profitable due to global demand. The researchers foresees a brilliant future for dragons agriculture in the coastal belt of Karachi and Thatta, where climatic conditions are ideal, which requires temperatures between 10 and 40 degrees Celsius.
They pointed out that Vietnam, the largest exporter of Dragon Fruit, exports $ 1.1 billion annually. In contrast, a Chinese couple and a local farmer named Amen established commercial farms of dragon fruits in Lahore and Kasur four years ago. Another local farmer, Sohail Ahmed Khan, is expanding its commercially farm in Sargodha and is expected to occupy the fourth place soon in the local agricultural industry.
