PROF. (DR.) PARSHANT BAKSHI
Dragon fruit (Hylocereus spp.) has emerged as a sustainable and profitable venture for in many subtropical pockets of India including the Jammu region because it adapts well to warm subtropical climates, requires comparatively little water once established, and brings good market value. This crop has gained momentum in Jammu region with the technical interventions of SKUAST-J as well as due to its unique appearance, high nutritional value and medicinal properties.This fruit is rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, dietary fibre and minerals like calcium and phosphorus, making it a super fruit. The practical, field-ready guide tailored to organic production in Jammu: site and planting, cultural operations (trellis, pruning, nutrition, pest/disease management using organic methods), how to obtain organic certification, and post-harvest handling protocols suitable for Jammu’s climate and market chains.
- Why dragon fruit suits Jammu
Dragon fruit performs well in subtropical conditions and has already been adopted successfully by progressive growers in Jammu, Samba, Kathua regions; trials and local experience show good establishment and fruiting under local agro-climatic conditions. - Site selection and planting (organic focus)
” Climate and aspect: Choose a well-drained site with full sun to partial shade. Avoid waterlogged plots; dragon fruit tolerates some drought but needs steady moisture during establishment and fruiting.
” Soil: Light to medium textured soils with good drainage; pH 6.0-7.5 preferred. Improve heavy soils with organic matter (well-rotten farmyard manure, vermicompost).
” Planting time: In Jammu, planting is commonly done in January – February or at the start of dry season to avoid heavy monsoon stress on young plants.
” Propagation material: Use disease-free, well-rooted cuttings or hardened tissue-culture plants. Hardening and use of good potting mixes (soil:sand:vermicompost mixes) improves survivability. - Orchard layout and trellis systems (organic advantage)
” Trellis types: Use sturdy single-post + cross-arm posts, T-bar or horizontal wire trellises. Proper trellis design reduces spread of fungal spores (by improving aeration) and simplifies pruning and harvest. T-bar/horizontal systems support higher planting densities and mechanize some operations.
” Plant spacing: Common layouts are 3-4 m between posts and 1.5-3 m between plants depending on trellis form; choose spacing that balances light penetration, air flow and labour efficiency. - Organic nutrient management
” Baseline: Apply well-decomposed FYM or compost at planting. Maintain organic carbon and soil biology with seasonal applications of vermicompost (e.g., 5-10 kg/plant/year split doses depending on age).
” Liquid organics: Use locally approved organic nutrient inputs, bio-fertilizers and microbial preparations (e.g., compost tea, microbial consortia, Kitchen waste, PGPR formulations) to enhance nutrient availability and plant health.
” Soil testing: Periodically test and correct deficiencies using permitted organic inputs (rock phosphate for P, greensand/seaweed extracts for micronutrients when allowed under certifier rules). - Water, mulching and irrigation
” Irrigation: Drip irrigation is recommended for water use efficiency and disease control. Schedule irrigation to avoid prolonged wet foliage.
” Mulch: Organic mulch (straw, sugarcane trash) reduces evaporation, controls weeds and builds soil organic matter – important for organic certification and soil resilience. - Organic pest and disease management
” Common issues: In humid spells, stem and fruit rots and some fungal infections are the main threats; insect pressure is typically low but mealybugs or scale can appear.
” Preventive measures: Maintain sanitation (remove diseased pads/fruit), ensure good air circulation (training/pruning), and avoid overhead watering. Bagging fruits (paper/fabric bags) during rainy periods helps prevent rain damage and reduces pest/disease entry.
” Approved treatments: Use copper-based fungicides within certifier limits, neem formulations, Bacillus subtilis/Bacillus thuringiensis products, and organic insecticidal soaps/kaolin clay where necessary – always check with your certification body for allowed materials and maximum residue limits.
” Tool hygiene: Sanitize cutting tools to prevent disease transmission (important for cactus crops prone to bacterial/fungal spread). - Pruning and training (productivity and sanitation)
” Timing and method: Prune to remove weak, excess or diseased stems and to maintain an open canopy; major pruning often done in dry season (e.g., November-December in the region).
” Sanitize tools between plants. Proper cladode density (avoid overcrowding) improves flowering and fruit set. - Harvesting (organic considerations)
” Maturity indicators: Harvest when skin colour develops fully and scales begin to dry at tips maturity varies with cultivar. Avoid harvesting immature fruit as quality and storability drop.
” Harvest method: Use clean containers, harvest by cutting fruit with a sterile knife (do not pull), and avoid bruising. Train labour in gentle handling – bruised fruit is more prone to rot and downgraded in market. - Post-harvest handling for organically grown fruits in Jammu
Jammu’s subtropical climate (warm days, cool nights in many pockets) and sometimes high monsoon humidity mean careful post-harvest handling is essential to maintain organic integrity and market value.
Precautions to be taken:
” Field sorting and culling: Do primary sorting in the field remove damaged, overripe, or insect-infested fruit; do not mix fallen/ground fruits with harvested fruit.
” Hygiene and packing materials: Use clean, food-grade packaging. For organic produce, only approved, non-contaminating packing materials are acceptable. Sanitize crates and surfaces with permitted materials (e.g., potable water, approved sanitizers) – keep records for certification audits.
” Cooling and cold chain: Rapidly cool fruit to remove field heat. While dragon fruit tolerates ambient transport better than some soft fruits, use of coolers (or shaded, ventilated trucks) and cold storage at recommended temperatures increases shelf life and reduces post-harvest loss. For smallholders, explore community cold rooms or local pack-houses to link to markets.
” Humidity management: Maintain moderate relative humidity to avoid desiccation without encouraging fungal growth appropriate storage RH and temperature depend on cultivar and maturity; consult local pack-house recommendations.
” Minimal handling and traceability: Keep handling steps minimal and document harvest date, field/block, and post-harvest treatments – essential for organic traceability. Retain blocks of records: inputs, harvest logs, packing lists, transport details.
” Fruit bagging and protection for monsoon: During rainy spells bagging fruits helps prevent rain-splitting and fungal entry (bagging also fits organic systems as a physical control). - Organic certification of fruits in India – practical steps (NPOP/APEDA)
For producers in Jammu seeking market access as “organic,” the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP), implemented by APEDA, is the primary Indian scheme. Steps (high-level):
” Understand standards: Read the NPOP standard and the list of permitted inputs; only NPOP-approved practices and materials are allowed.
” Select an accredited certification body: Choose an NPOP-accredited certifier (there are many across India, including state certifiers). The certifier will explain documentation needs, audit timelines and fees.
” Conversion period and record keeping: If land was conventionally managed, a conversion period (usually 2 years for perennial crops from last prohibited input) applies before you can label produce as organic for most markets – keep detailed input records, field history and maps. A group certification option (Participatory Guarantee Systems or PGS) may be suitable for smallholders for domestic markets; for export NPOP third-party certification is required.
” On-site inspection: The certifier performs an inspection of the orchard, processing/packing area and record systems. Non-conformities must be corrected.
” Certification and annual renewal: After compliance is confirmed, the certifier issues a certificate which must be renewed annually (with periodic inspections). Maintain traceability through packing and transport.
Note: Always check the latest APEDA/NPOP rules, lists of accredited certifiers, and specific export market requirements (e.g., EU, US NOP equivalence and additional paperwork) before marketing. - Practical checklist for an organic dragon-fruit grower in Jammu
- Choose certified clean planting material and mark field blocks.
- Build a durable trellis; plan spacing for pruning and harvest.
- Prepare soil with compost/FYM and plant in recommended months (January-February).
- Implement drip irrigation + mulching; maintain sanitation and tool hygiene.
- Use permitted organic inputs only; document every input and operation.
- Sort in field, use clean packing, cool fruit quickly, and use community cold-storage if available.
- Start certification process early (group or individual) and maintain records for audits.
- Quick resources and next steps (where to look)
” APEDA – NPOP programme (standards, list of accredited certifiers and procedures).
” NIAM / state horticulture extension bulletins for dragon fruit cultivation details (spacing, training, yield expectations).
” Local KVK / State Horticulture Department and SKUAST extension officers (for Jammu-specific micro-climate guidance and help connecting to pack-houses/cold storage). (Local extension is invaluable for Farm-to-market solutions.
Organic dragon fruit in Jammu is a realistic, scalable enterprise when growers combine sound orchard design (trellis, irrigation, and pruning) with strict sanitation, allowed organic inputs, and careful post-harvest handling. Certification under NPOP opens domestic and export markets, but requires record diligence and an understanding of the conversion period and permitted materials. For highest returns, focus equally on quality (fruit sizing, colour, blemish-free) and on building links to pack-houses and cold-chain facilities in the region.
(The writer is Head, Fruit Science, SKUAST-Jammu)