Dragon fruit business

Dragon fruit or dragon fruit or tangloy classified as an exotic fruit in Indonesia because the price is quite expensive, around Rp. 20,000, per kilogram, and its availability is still scarce. The fruit is also being promoted as a fruit that can lower cholesterol, blood sugar, prevent colon cancer and as an ingredient in cosmetics.

     Not all agricultural businesses recognize this plant. Employers in East Java is still limited to certain areas, namely in Pasuruan in private. Therefore cultivate a competitive business opportunities to be captured and developed. Provided that it meets the requirements of the development areas to grow the desired fruit.

     Dragon fruit cultivation is the result of observations made at the farm run by Mr. Solomon, WH and Boedijono Utomo in Pasuruan.Component technology is applied in almost any garden is input using organic ingredients.

COMPONENT TECHNOLOGY

1. Plants Growing Requirements

Planted in the lowlands at an altitude of 20-100 m above sea level.Soil conditions do not contain high clay so that drainage is good enough (like the desired soil conditions cactus plants) with soil pH of 5-7. Enough water available for plants sensitive to drought will rot if the excess water.Requires full sunlight irradiation to accelerate the disposal process.

2. Preparation of Land

 Prepare for the standing crop of living trees, because these plants do not have a solid rod. In the observations used in the garden or Kaliandra jaranan tree.Moreover, it can use a wooden or concrete pole with u Kuran 10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm with a height of 2 meters that plug into the soil as deep as 50 cm. A month before planting, the planting hole be made in advance with a size of 40 x 40 x 40 cm with a spacing of 2 mx 2.5 m, resulting in a 1 hectare there are approximately 2,000 jaranan tree planting hole. Each pole / tree buffer were made 3-4 with a planting hole about 30 cm distance from the poles. The planting hole is then given a ripe manure as much as 1 tin (5-10 kg) mixed with the soil.

 3. Preparation and Planting Seeds

a. Generative ways: to sow seeds of dragon fruit. This method is considered to be less efficient because seedlings take about 1.5 months. From seed to fruit takes 4-5 years.
 b. Vegetative ways: through the plant stem cuttings. Choose branch plants healthy and strong, then cut along the 25-30 cm, and immediately planted in the prepared hole. To prepare the nursery, planting the seeds of this potential in polybags filled with planting medium. Candidates for these seeds put in the shade for 1 week, to reduce stress due to injuries pieces. After that the seedlings are moved in the nursery which has been prepared. About 3 months and after the shoots emerge, ready to be sold or planted.

 4. Maintenance
 - Watering in the early stages of growth, irrigation 1-2 days. Keep the soil is always moist, but not until the excess water / stagnant because it will cause the decay of plants.
 - Fertilizing Fertilizing crops with animal manure given interval giving 3 months, with the number 1 tin (5-10 kg) for the initial planting and increased up to 2 tin to the age of the plant.
 - Control of Pest Organisms (OPT) While it has not found any pests and disease potential. Land clearing or weed control carried out so as not to interfere with plant growth. Avoid using chemicals (herbicides) as feared would interfere with plant roots.
 - Trimming Trunk dibisrkan stem grows. Once the high reach poles (about 2 meters) trimmed. Similarly, the side shoots below the cut as well. The new branch just above the sustained growth elongated and curved downwards which will flower and fruit.

 5. Harvesting

 Once the plants are between 1.5 - 2 years will begin to flower and fruit. The fruit can be harvested when they reach the age of 50 days from anthesis. In the first 2 years, each pillar is able to produce fruit 8-10 dragon fruit weight ranged from 400-600 grams. Largest harvest dragon fruits in September through March. Life of dragon fruit plants ranged from 15-20 years.



 6. Marketing

 For while the yield obtained was to meet the demand of local supermarkets. While the quality standards established to serve the export market is a fruit with an average weight of 500 g / fruit, smooth and not grainy and tassels / scales are still fresh. DRAGON FRUIT PROSPECTS To date almost all of the dragon fruit on the market Indonesia is imported fruit and less than 1% of domestic production.

•  BENEFITS 

 At the end of the 4th year, the cost is about Rp. 248 000 000, -. The results obtained were Rp. 330 000 000, -. So the profits earned during the 4 years of investment was Rp. 82 million, - In the fifth and so the results will be obtained approximately Rp. 150.000.000, - the maintenance cost of about Rp. 40.000.000, -