MIDH Scheme- Kamalam Cultivation Projected To Grow To 50,000 Ha In 5 Years

Kamalam's MIDH target for area expansion is 50,000 ha in 5 years. This fruit has recently begun to be cultivated, and a plantation of this healthy fruit has been established at ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Port-Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and IIHR, Bengaluru, Karnataka.

The Kamalam (Dragon fruit) has recently piqued the interest of growers worldwide, not only for its red-purple color and economic value as a food product but also for its enormous health benefits.

Farmers in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Mizoram, and Nagaland have taken up the cultivation of Kamalam Fruit. The total area under cultivation of Dragon Fruit in India is currently more than 3,000 ha, which is insufficient to meet domestic demand; thus, the majority of dragon fruits available in the Indian market are imported from Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka.

With a focus on Atmanirbhar Bharat, there is a need to reduce imports while increasing our production capacity. A roadmap is being prepared for the cultivation of this crop in the identified potential area under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) to increase the production of exotic and niche area fruits such as Kamalam.

Under MIDH, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has approved the establishment of a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Kamalam Fruit by the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru, Karnataka on 09-03-2023 at Hirehalli, Bengaluru, Karnataka to focus on Kamalam production, post-harvest, and value addition.

The Center will work on the development of cutting-edge production technology in accordance with international standards, as well as off-season production and demonstration of these technologies for high-yield production. The Centre will strive for self-sufficiency in Kamalam fruit production, value addition, and economic development of the farming community.

PIB

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