The price of dragon fruit is dropping, but why?

 

Dragon fruit season typically spans from May to November, but some farmers in the country have adopted the 'lighting method' to cultivate this fruit year-round, resulting in continuous production. Unlike seasonal fruits, these off-season dragon fruits tend to be larger in size. However, recent misinformation circulating in the market has significantly reduced the demand for this fruit, leaving dragon fruit farmers in Rajshahi concerned. Farmers attribute the drop in demand to misinformation, which has led to dragon fruit being undersold, even at half the usual price. They are urging the government to intervene and counteract the false information. According to farmers, naturally grown dragon fruits have red flesh and thin skin, while artificially grown ones have thicker skin and a less vibrant color, making it easier for buyers to distinguish between them. The Rajshahi Agricultural Extension Department reports that approximately 224 hectares of land in Rajshahi are dedicated to dragon fruit cultivation, with a target yield of 4,620 metric tons. Despite the relatively small area dedicated to the lighting method (seven hectares), it is primarily used from December to March to compensate for decreased sunlight during the winter months. Misinformation surrounding dragon fruit cultivation, including baseless claims about hormone usage, has inflicted financial losses on farmers like Masud Rana from Udpur village. Despite sending 160 kg of dragon fruit to Dhaka, he faced a significant decrease in selling price compared to previous years. Dragon fruit typically takes 25 to 28 days to ripen during the main season and 38 to 42 days during the off-season, with off-season fruits weighing significantly more due to prolonged maturation on the tree. Despite being a popular choice to supplement the limited availability of domestic fruits from December to March, dragon fruit farmers are struggling due to misinformation spreading on social media platforms. The Deputy Director of the Rajshahi Agricultural Extension Department attributes the decline in market price to misleading information, emphasizing that fruit size naturally varies depending on the season. Farmers like Moniruzzaman and businessman Royal Islam emphasize the need for accurate information dissemination to address consumer concerns and restore confidence in locally grown dragon fruit. Meanwhile, botanist M Manjur Hossain warns about the potential health risks associated with consuming artificially grown dragon fruit, advocating for consumers to opt for naturally grown fruits instead.