Dragon fruit has good prospects for growers<\/p>\n
Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post\/Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
The term \"dragon fruit\" (Hylocereus undatus), or buah naga as it
\nis known locally, probably still sounds strange to many
\nIndonesian ears.<\/p>\n
Yet, those who know exactly their health benefits and can
\nafford to buy them, too, will not hesitate to seek them out,
\nwhich explains why demand for this particular commodity is on the
\nincrease.<\/p>\n
To meet the demand, however, mostly Thai and Malaysian dragon
\nfruit has been imported into the domestic market.<\/p>\n
A report says some 200 tons to 400 tons of imported dragon
\nfruit is sold here annually.<\/p>\n
Tempted by such good prospects, in August 2004 the regental
\nadministration of Kulonprogo, Yogyakarta province, in cooperation
\nwith Surabaya-based PT Jala Sutra Nusantara, made available a
\nthree-hectare pilot plot for dragon fruit production in
\nKalibawang subdistrict.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, the first harvest of the Rp 400 million
\nplantation was made, resulting in some two tons of fruit.<\/p>\n
\"We hope local farmers will be interested in planting the
\nfruit if this pilot project is successful,\" head of the regency
\nhorticultural office Langgeng Basuki told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
For the pilot project the local government has employed local
\nfarmers in the hope that they will later be able to plant the
\nfruit themselves. The local government will continue to give them
\nassistance with seedlings, processing and, most important of all,
\nmarketing the commodity.<\/p>\n
By way of preparation, said Basuki, his office had developed a
\nself-seedling initiative from the plantation. Next month, he
\nsaid, his office would make available some 4,000 ready-to-plant
\ndragon fruit seedlings.<\/p>\n
\"The seedlings will be provided for farmers in coastal parts
\nof Kulonprogo. Each family will get 80 seedlings and will be
\nrequired to give back to the office the same amount of seedlings
\nwhen their plantation is already developed, for further
\ndistribution to other farmers,\" said Basuki, adding that was the
\nway the item would be propagated within the regency.<\/p>\n
In theory, the regency's coastal areas, with their sandy
\nsoils, are very suitable for planting dragon fruit, which is from
\nthe same species as the cactus.<\/p>\n
Four dragon fruit types are known to exist. They are: white-
\nfleshed (Hylocereus undatus), red-fleshed (Hylocereus
\npolyrhizus), super red-fleshed (Hylocereus costaricensis) and
\nyellow-skinned, white-fleshed dragon fruit (Selenicerius
\nmegalanthus).<\/p>\n
However, only the white-fleshed variety is currently under
\ncultivation in Kulonprogo.<\/p>\n
When they start to produce fruit dragon fruit plants can be
\nharvested three times a year. The plant usually needs about six
\nmonths to yield its first harvest.<\/p>\n
Once it is planted and starts producing fruit it can last for
\nup to 20 years: In other words, farmers need only plant them once
\nevery 20 years. A hectare of land, according to Basuki, can
\naccommodate some 6,400 dragon fruit plants.<\/p>\n
As far as marketing is concerned, farmers need not worry too
\nmuch, as the fruit is still in high demand. Besides, Basuki says,
\npartner company PT Jala Sutra Nusantara has also expressed a
\ncommitment to buy all the fruit produced, no matter how much.<\/p>\n
Dragon fruit is currently categorized as expensive, meaning it
\nappeals to the top end of the market. Dragon fruit weighing less
\nthan half a kilogram, for example, are currently sold at Rp 5,000
\nper kilogram.<\/p>\n
Those weighing between half a kilogram to 0.7 kg are sold at
\nRp 10,000 per kilogram while those weighing over 0.7 kg are sold
\nat Rp 15,000 per kilogram.<\/p>\n
In supermarkets, the price is usually higher. Idayani, a
\nregular consumer of dragon fruit, for example, told The Post she
\nspent around Rp 30,000 on dragon fruit sold in supermarkets.<\/p>\n
Such venues, she said, were her main destination for buying
\ndragon fruit as they were rarely found at other places, much less
\nin traditional markets.<\/p>\n
Many believe dragon fruit are good for human health. They are
\nbelieved to be good for people with a high level of blood sugar,
\nthey help prevent cancer, reduce the cholesterol content in human
\nblood, prevent bleeding and are good for dental health.<\/p>\n
Idayani, who has cancer, believes that dragon fruit has
\ncontributed a great deal to her fitness level. She said she felt
\ngood every time she ate the fruit. \"I feel fresher after
\nconsuming it.\"<\/p>\n
It also makes a very delicious, refreshing fruit juice,\" she
\nsaid, adding that she often found it very difficult to find such
\njuice in town.<\/p>\n
It was also because of this prospective business opportunity
\nthat 48-year old Kardiman, a farmer from Trisik beach,
\nKulonprogo, has been trying his luck in the business.<\/p>\n
He had started even before the local regental government
\nstarted its pilot plantation in Kalibawang. He planted them in
\n2003, on his relatively small fields.<\/p>\n
He bought the seedlings in the nearby town of Delanggu,
\nKlaten, Central Java, in mid-2003. Within six months he started
\nto harvest them. \"The results were quite good. I can sometimes
\nsell them for Rp 25,000 per kilogram, and they always sell out,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Planting dragon fruit, according to Kardiman, is easy and
\nuncomplicated. They require only simple maintenance. Once they
\nare planted, he says, they need only watering during the dry
\nseason and manure as fertilizer.<\/p>\n
\"It's a very simple, cheap process,\" he said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/dragon-fruit-has-good-prospects-for-growers-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }