Dragon Fruit Development Scheme - Golden Opportunity for Farmers in Bihar
India is an agricultural country, where the central and state governments operate various schemes to increase the income of farmers and strengthen their economic condition. The Bihar government has started a new initiative in the interest of farmers, known as Dragon Fruit Development Scheme. This scheme will not only help in increasing the income of farmers, but is also an important step towards making Bihar a leader in the production of dragon fruit. In this article, we will understand in detail the various aspects of this scheme, its benefits, eligibility, application process and important information related to dragon fruit cultivation, so that farmers and common people can easily understand this scheme and take advantage of it.
What is Dragon Fruit Development Scheme?
The Bihar government has launched the Dragon Fruit Development Scheme to promote dragon fruit cultivation. Under this scheme, subsidy will be provided to farmers from the financial year 2025-26 to 2026-27. The government has set a budget of Rs 1,26,90,000 for this scheme, which will benefit farmers of 23 districts of the state. Dragon fruit, also known as Pitahaya, is a nutrient-rich fruit, whose demand in the market is increasing rapidly. Its cultivation is not only profitable, but it also gives good production in less water and less care.
The main objective of this scheme is to encourage small and marginal farmers to cultivate dragon fruit, so that their income increases and Bihar can become self-sufficient in dragon fruit production. Under the scheme, farmers will not only be given financial assistance, but they will also be provided technical information and training of farming.
Major objectives of the scheme
1. Increase in farmers' income - Given the increasing demand for dragon fruit, its cultivation can give good profits to farmers. This fruit sells at a high price in the market, which will strengthen the economic condition of the farmers.
2. Agricultural diversification - To promote new and profitable crops like dragon fruit along with traditional crops.
3. Making Bihar a production hub - Through this scheme, the aim is to make Bihar a leading state in dragon fruit production.
4. Promotion of low water farming - Dragon fruit can be cultivated with less water and less care, which is important in the era of climate change.
Subsidy and financial assistance under the scheme
Dragon fruit cultivation costs around Rs 6.75 lakh per hectare, which includes planting of plants, installation of pillars, irrigation system and other resources. The government will provide a subsidy of 40% of this cost i.e. Rs 2.70 lakh. This subsidy will be given in two installments:
1. First installment - Rs 1.62 lakh, which will be given to start cultivation.
2. Second installment - Rs 1.08 lakh, which will be provided based on the progress of cultivation.
This subsidy will be given to farmers cultivating dragon fruit on land ranging from 0.1 hectare to 2.0 hectares. 5000 plants can be planted per hectare, which will increase both the quantity and quality of production.
Eligibility for the scheme
The benefit of this scheme will be given mainly to small and marginal farmers. The main criteria of eligibility are as follows:
1. The farmer should be a resident of Bihar. The benefit of the scheme is only for the farmers of Bihar.
2. Availability of land - The farmer should have land ranging from 0.1 hectare to 2.0 hectare.
3. Priority - Priority will be given to small and marginal farmers, so that more and more needy farmers can get benefits.
4. Interest in dragon fruit cultivation - Farmers have to show enthusiasm and commitment to the cultivation of this new crop.
How will the farmers be selected?
Since the budget for this scheme is limited, farmers will be selected on the basis of lottery system. This process will be transparent and fair, so that only eligible and needy farmers get benefits. The following things will be taken care of in the selection process:
1. Application verification - The veracity and eligibility of the farmers' application will be checked.
2. Transparency - The selection process will be made transparent through a lottery system.
3. Training and Support - Selected farmers will be provided technical training and guidance for dragon fruit cultivation.
Dragon Fruit Cultivation - Why is it Beneficial?
Dragon fruit is an exotic fruit, which is becoming increasingly popular in the market due to its nutrients and taste. There are many advantages of its cultivation, which make it an attractive option for the farmers of Bihar:
1. High Demand - The demand for dragon fruit is increasing in domestic and international markets. This fruit is quite popular among hotels, restaurants and health conscious people.
2. Low Water Requirement - Dragon fruit is a cactus species plant, which gives good production even in less water. It is suitable for areas like Bihar, where water scarcity can be a problem.
3. Longevity - Once planted, the dragon fruit plant bears fruit for many years, giving farmers income for a long time.
4. High profit - The price of dragon fruit in the market is higher than other crops, which gives good profits to the farmers.
5. Health benefits - Dragon fruit is rich in vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants, due to which its demand is increasing among health conscious people.
How to cultivate dragon fruit?
Some important things need to be kept in mind for dragon fruit cultivation
1. Land preparation - Well-drained soil is suitable for dragon fruit cultivation. Sandy loam soil is considered best for its cultivation.
2. Planting - 5000 plants can be planted per hectare. Pillars or trellis system is used to support the plants.
3. Irrigation - Dragon fruit needs less water. Drip irrigation system is best suited for this.
4. Manure and fertilizer - The use of organic manure and fertilizers is important for plant growth.
5. Pest and disease control - Periodic inspection and use of organic pesticides should be done to protect dragon fruit plants from pests and diseases.
6. Harvesting and marketing - Dragon fruit is harvested when the fruit is fully ripe. It can be sold in local and international markets.
How to apply in the scheme?
Although the application process is not detailed in the article, the following process is generally followed for such schemes:
1. Official Website – Visit the official website of Bihar Agriculture Department to get information related to the scheme.
2. Application Form – Fill the online or offline application form. It will include personal information, land details, and other required documents.
3. Documents – Submit documents like Aadhaar card, residence certificate, land documents, and bank account details.
4. Verification – After the application, the documents and eligibility will be checked by the officials.
5. Lottery Process – Lottery system will be used for selection.
0 Comments