DERGAON, Sept 25 - A progressive farmer from Golaghat district has set an example by cultivating a new variety of fruit in the district as well as in the state. Karunakanta Hazarika � also known as Taj � of Bardihingia village in Kamargaon� has started cultivation of Dragon Fruit, a member of Cactus (Hylocereus). He started its cultivation on an experimental basis in December 2018 along with paddy and vegetables.
Starting initially as the owner of a Tata Sumo vehicle, he later turned to the agricultural sector. Then Bokakhat MLA Jiten Gogoi gave him a power tiller under the MLA development fund in 2008, and he was given a tractor with 85 per cent subsidy by Bokakhat MLA and Agriculture Minister Atul Bora this year. Talking to this correspondent, Hazarika said he was motivated for cultivation of the fruit after visiting Vietnam as the part of a tour of progressive farmers sponsored by the Assam government in May 2018.
Guided by State Agricultural Officer Arunima Dev Choudhury who had guided the team of 15 farmers from Assam in Vietnam, Hazarika bought the first 50 saplings of Dragon Fruit from the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Teok.
He planted the saplings in three bighas of land, and is now planning to bring about 2,000 saplings from Silchar.
Expecting a good market of the new fruit, he described the process of cultivation as easy and only the cost of putting up pucca posts was the main expenditure. The harvesting period is six months starting from April in a year after two years of plantation. The time period for grafting is 15-20 years.
Regarding the plant, Bijit Ranjan Saikia, associate professor of Botany at DKD College, Dergaon said the member of cactus (Hylocereus), a native of Mexico and Central America, is now grown all over the world. �With taste like pear, it is a source of iron, magnesium, fibre, vitamin C, antioxidants with low calorie. It can help fight against chronic diseases, has an extensive amount of fibre, and promotes the growth of healthy microorganisms and strengthens the immune system,� he said.
