Tue Jul 08 10:24:33 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text, followed by its re-writing as a news article:

**Summary:**

Dragon fruit (Kamalam) farming is gaining popularity in the Erode district of Tamil Nadu, India, due to its profitability and low maintenance. Farmers like S. Nagaraj are successfully cultivating the crop, yielding substantial harvests despite challenges like heat and fungal infections. The fruit is valued for its nutritional benefits and is sold to various outlets. While prices fluctuate based on market conditions, dragon fruit farming is seen as a sustainable and viable option for farmers in the region.

**News Article:**

**Dragon Fruit Blooms as Profitable Crop for Erode Farmers**

**ERODE, Tamil Nadu – July 8, 2025** – The vibrant pink dragon fruit, locally known as Kamalam, is rapidly becoming a favored crop among farmers in the Erode district, thanks to its lucrative market value and relatively simple upkeep.

Across approximately 12 acres in areas like Sathyamangalam and Gobichettipalayam, five farmers are now cultivating this exotic cactus, prized for its high antioxidant content, Vitamin C, and dietary fiber. The fruit-bearing plants, with a lifespan exceeding 20 years, begin producing within a year and reach peak productivity in three to four years.

S. Nagaraj, a farmer in Kugalur village, Gobichettipalayam, is one such success story. Nagaraj invested ₹7 lakh in 2023, planting 3,850 saplings sourced from Andhra Pradesh, using the trellis method on his one-acre plot. Within a year, his plants began bearing fruit, yielding 15 to 20 kg each. He harvests twice weekly, selling his produce to street vendors, retail chains like Pazhamudir Nilayam, and markets in Coimbatore.

“Last year, we were getting ₹150 per kg,” Nagaraj said. “This year it has dropped to ₹120 because of arrivals from Bengaluru.”

While the crop is hardy, farmers face challenges like excessive heat and fungal infections. Nagaraj mitigates these risks using natural farming practices, relying on organic inputs like cow dung and neem cake, and using drip irrigation.

As awareness of dragon fruit’s health benefits and commercial potential increases, its cultivation is emerging as a sustainable and profitable option for farmers across the Erode district.

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