Deputy Commissioner Barnala, Mr. T. Benith, visited the dragon fruit farm of progressive farmer Satnam Singh located at village Thullewal. Farmer Satnam Singh told that he started dragon fruit cultivation in 2016 on two kanals of land and he is now cultivating it on four acres. Out of this, one acre is under a net house.
According to Satnam Singh, one acre yields around 30 quintals of produce per season, which he sells in the market at the rate of ₹150 to ₹200 per kilogram. His farm - "Dragon Aulakh Thullewal" - grows the “American Beauty” (Punjab No. 1 variety developed by PAU), which has a high demand in several districts of Punjab, including Chandigarh.
He has also been honored by PAU for his innovative farming practices. He produces and sells dragon fruit saplings throughout the year, which provides him with additional income. Satnam Singh mentioned that dragon fruit is a one-time plantation crop.
Since about half a kanal of space remains vacant between the plants, he practices intercropping with vegetables, chickpeas, mustard, and turmeric, which yields extra profit. This shift has freed him from the traditional wheat-paddy cycle and improved soil health due to lower water consumption.
For long-term returns, he has also planted sandalwood trees on around half an acre of land. Deputy Commissioner Mr T Benith emphasized the importance of promoting innovative crops and advanced agricultural technologies, stating that crop diversification can significantly increase farmers’ income.
During the interaction with the farmer, the Deputy Commissioner Mr T Benith gathered detailed information about his experience, cultivation costs, profitability and marketing. Satnam Singh shared that he is experimenting with growing tomatoes, colored capsicum, green chilies and other vegetables in the net house, which are yielding encouraging profits.
Appreciating the farmer’s efforts, the Deputy Commissioner directed the agriculture department to organize camps and field demonstrations to motivate other farmers to adopt dragon fruit cultivation. He added that several farmers in Barnala have already started growing dragon fruit inspired by Satnam Singh’s success.
Deputy Commissioner assured complete administrative support in promoting modern technologies, water-saving methods, and high-value crops. During the visit, Chief Agriculture Officer Dr. Amritpal Singh and Sunita Sharma from the Agriculture Department were also present.