KATHMANDU: Kalpana Gauli from Byas Municipality-5, Tanahu, has achieved notable success with her dragon fruit farm. Last year, she earned Rs 1.6 million from selling dragon fruits cultivated on her 9-ropani land, where she has planted 2,100 dragon fruit plants. Gauli began her farm in 2022 under the name “Ma Ambe Alaukik Krishi Farm,” importing the plants from Hyderabad, India. She leases the land for 20 years at Rs 20,000 per month and expects her earnings to reach Rs 2 million this year due to improved fruit quality.

Dragon fruit on her farm starts flowering in May and is ready for harvest 60 days later, with harvesting occurring from June to November. Gauli has already picked 35 kg in the first harvest, followed by 1,000 kg in each of the second and third harvests. The fruits can be harvested up to 13 times. Most of her sales are direct to customers who visit the farm, while any remaining fruits are sold to vendors in Damauli. The fruits are priced between Rs 500 to 700 per kg after grading.

Gauli’s farm has recently become an observation center, attracting school and college students, teachers, and local visitors interested in learning about dragon fruit cultivation. Government employees and representatives from various organizations also visit the farm, although entry is restricted to when the fruit is ripe.