YouTube-Inspired Farmer Turns Dragon Fruit Losses into Millions in Rajasthan

• Pankaj Saini, a farmer from Sikar, Rajasthan, started dragon fruit cultivation after watching YouTube videos, becoming the first in his region.
• He invested 3-3.5 lakh rupees, ordering 1700-1800 plants from Hyderabad and Gujarat, and set up a trellis system with iron pillars.
• Despite initial losses, he adopted drip irrigation and organic methods (Trichoderma) for pest control, reducing water use significantly.
• Each plant yields about 4 kg of fruit, sold at approximately 130 rupees per fruit, leading to annual earnings in millions.
• His success inspires other farmers, and he now prepares his own plants, with support from the Horticulture Department.

Why It Matters: Innovation and perseverance transformed Pankaj Saini's dragon fruit venture into a million-dollar success.