In a major boost to the export of the exotic fruit, originally not grown in India, a consignment of the fibre and mineral-rich dragon fruit has been exported to Dubai, UAE.

A consignment of the dragon fruit for exports was sourced from the farmers of Tadasar village, Sangli district, Maharashtra and it was processed and packed at APEDA recognized exporter Kay Bee.
Scientifically referred to as Hylocereusundatus, the dragon fruit is grown in countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam and the USAonly.

Dragon fruit production commenced in India in the 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, said a government statement quoted by IBNS.

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.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had talked about dragon fruit farming in the arid Kutch region of Gujarat in one of his monthly radio talks. He had congratulated the farmers of Kutch for the cultivation of fruit for ensuring India’s self-sufficiency in the production.

The fruit contains fibre, 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 a lotus, it is also referred to as Kamalam.(Kamal is Hindi for lotus, and also happens to be the ruling BJP's election symbol)

APEDA promotes exports of agricultural and processed food products from India. (SAM)