Dharmapuri farmers adapt to drought with pitahaya cultivation

Due to recurrent droughts in Dharmapuri (India) and reduced monsoon rains, farmers have started to turn to pitahaya cultivation, a plant that copes well with water-scarce conditions. Normally, the district receives an average of 942 mm of annual rainfall, but in recent years that amount has decreased significantly, prompting farmers to look for viable alternatives.

 

One farmer in the area comments that many farmers usually grow rice, turmeric, and tapioca, but these require a lot of water and, due to current conditions, do not generate good yields. As a result, many have decided to opt for more profitable crops such as pitahaya, which has a low initial investment and sells at a good price in the market, fetching up to 150 rupees ($1.80) per kilogram.

 

Another farmer explains that pitahaya demands little water and that the support structure needed for its cultivation involves minimal investment. He also notes that between May and October, which is the growing season, the plant requires little attention and is practically limited to pollination.