Bhabua: In Bihar’s Kaimur district, retired Army Subedar Praveen Singh from Baraora village in Ramgarh block has emerged as a symbol of agricultural innovation. After years of service in the Army, Singh turned to farming — and is now gaining attention for cultivating dragon fruit alongside mango orchards, a method that could redefine fruit farming in Bihar’s climate.
Creating a Cooler Microclimate for Dragon Fruit
Dragon fruit cultivation faces a major challenge in Bihar’s high temperatures. Instead of using green tarpaulin for shade — a common practice among farmers — Singh planted around 200 dragon fruit plants within his mango orchard, supported by 50 concrete towers.
“The mango trees provide natural shade and maintain a balanced temperature,” Singh explained. “This helps the dragon fruit plants grow faster and produce healthier fruit.”
Success Without Chemicals
Rejecting chemical and even commercial organic fertilizers, Singh relies on neem cake, mustard cake, and green manure. The result has surprised even agricultural scientists — his dragon fruit plants started flowering and fruiting within a year, almost six months earlier than the usual cycle.
He said, “I don’t use any chemical fertilizers. Natural manure keeps the soil alive, the plants healthy, and the fruit more flavorful.”
Indigenous Innovation with a Global Touch
Singh sourced his dragon fruit plants from Ajay Singh, a farmer from Jhulaha village in the same block, who was the first in Kaimur to cultivate the American Beauty variety — a species with deep red flesh and rind. “These plants have adapted well to local conditions,” said Singh, who believes such cross-learning among farmers can strengthen Bihar’s horticulture.
Neem for Fungus and Heat Protection
Dragon fruit plants are particularly vulnerable to fungal infections and heat stress. To protect them, Singh regularly sprays neem leaf extract and neem oil. He also prunes his mango trees every year to allow sufficient sunlight to reach the dragon fruit plants — a step that, incidentally, has also increased mango yield.
12–15 kg Yield Per Tower and Rising Demand
According to Singh, each tower yields around 12 to 15 kilograms of dragon fruit. With market demand steadily rising, he plans to launch online sales to reach a wider customer base. “Natural farming not only boosts income but also ensures sustainability,” he said.
Message to Fellow Farmers
Calling his experiment a success story of self-reliant agriculture, Singh urged other farmers to adopt natural farming methods. “Chemical-free farming is the future. It preserves the soil, produces tastier fruits, and reduces dependency on external inputs,” he emphasized.
With early fruiting, healthy plants, and increasing yields, Subedar Praveen Singh’s mango-and-dragon fruit model is drawing attention from agricultural experts — proving that innovation rooted in nature can bear the sweetest results.
