From Natural Farming to Value Addition

Progressive Farmer Jeevan Singh Rana and Son Ashish Expand Cultivation to 5,000 Plants; First Dragon Fruit Jam Prepared at Nagrota Bagwan

Kangra, August 2026: Dragon fruit cultivation is steadily emerging as a promising high-value farming activity in Kangra, with progressive farmer Jeevan Singh Rana, a retired lecturer, and his son Ashish Singh Rana demonstrating how natural farming, scientific guidance, nursery development and value addition can create new avenues for farm income.

What began with around 500 dragon fruit plants has now expanded into a plantation of approximately 5,000 plants spread across 35 kanal. The Rana family has also established the district’s first registered dragon fruit nursery under the Department of Horticulture, providing further impetus to the propagation of the crop in the region.

Ashish Singh Rana’s efforts in natural farming of dragon fruit were recognised with the “Utkrisht Kisan Samman” during the 41st Foundation Day celebration of Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan.

From Experiment to Enterprise

The success of the Rana family reflects the growing potential of dragon fruit as an alternative high-value crop in Himachal Pradesh. With technical guidance from Dr. Kamal Sheel Negi, Joint Director of Horticulture, Kangra, the farmers received field-level support on cultivation and nursery management.

The department has stated that several farmers have now established dragon fruit nurseries under the Himachal Pradesh Fruit Nurseries Registration and Regulation Act, 2015. New dragon fruit orchards are also being developed in Fatehpur, Nurpur, Dehra, Indora and Sulah development blocks, besides parts of Una district.

Farmers can also avail themselves of a 50 per cent subsidy for cost-intensive crops such as dragon fruit, avocado, blueberry, kiwi and strawberry under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).

Turning Surplus Fruit into Opportunity

While premium-quality dragon fruit finds a market, farmers can face difficulties in selling undersized, surplus and unsold produce. Instead of allowing such fruit to go to waste, the Department of Horticulture is promoting processing and value addition as an additional source of income.

According to Dr. Suresh Kumar Negi, Subject Matter Specialist (Horticulture), Fruit Canning Unit (FCU), Nagrota Bagwan, the department provides processing facilities to farmers under Community Canning Services at nominal charges of approximately ₹50–₹65 per kilogram, depending on the product and processing requirements.

For the Rana family, this initiative provided a practical solution to a real marketing challenge.

First Dragon Fruit Jam at Nagrota Bagwan

After approaching the Department of Horticulture over difficulties in marketing undersized and unsold dragon fruits, Jeevan Singh Rana was advised to utilise the processing facilities at the Fruit Canning Unit, Nagrota Bagwan.

With technical assistance from Dr. Suresh Kumar Negi, he subsequently prepared approximately 23 kilograms of dragon fruit jam using fruit produced through natural farming practices.

According to the department, this is the first time dragon fruit jam has been prepared at the Fruit Canning Unit, Nagrota Bagwan, marking an important step towards expanding processing and value addition for the emerging crop.

Rana expressed satisfaction with the quality and taste of the jam and said that processing facilities could prove particularly beneficial for utilising small-sized, surplus and difficult-to-market fruit. Such value addition, he said, can provide farmers with an alternative marketing channel while reducing wastage.

A Model for Diversified Farm Income

The Department of Horticulture, Kangra, is encouraging farmers to look beyond primary production and explore processing, packaging and marketing opportunities. The objective is to reduce post-harvest losses while increasing the economic value of agricultural produce.

The experience of the Rana family demonstrates how natural farming, high-value crop cultivation, registered nursery development and food processing can be integrated into a broader farm-enterprise model.

The department has reiterated its commitment to providing technical guidance and facilitating farmer-oriented interventions in cultivation, propagation, processing and value addition. Farmers seeking information about available schemes and technical support can contact their concerned Subject Matter Specialist (Horticulture), Horticulture Development Officer or Horticulture Extension Officer.

With dragon fruit cultivation expanding across Kangra and neighbouring districts, initiatives such as the first locally processed dragon fruit jam point towards a wider opportunity—where farmers can not only grow emerging high-value crops but also capture greater value from the produce they harvest.