A consignment of fibre and mineral rich ‘Dragon Fruit’, also referred as Kamalam, has been exported to Dubai.
- A consignment of Dragon Fruit for export was sourced from the farmers of Tadasar village in Sangli district of Maharashtra.
- Scientifically referred to as Hylocereusundatus, the dragon fruit is grown in countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, the USA and Vietnam.
- The fruit contains fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
- It can help in repairing the cell damage caused by oxidative stress and reduce inflammation, and also improving the digestive system.
- Since the fruit has spikes and petals resembling lotus, it is also referred as ‘Kamalam’.
- Dragon fruit production commenced in India in early 1990s and was grown as home gardens.
- Dragon Fruit has become increasingly popular in recent years in the country as it has been taken up for cultivation by farmers across various states.
- At present, dragon fruit is grown mostly in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- The cultivation requires less water and can be grown in various kinds of soils. There are three main varieties of dragon fruit.
(Source: AIR)
