PROGRESS REPORT OF VALUE CHAIN STUDY ON DRAGON FRUIT REIEK - THE CLUSTER SITE,

NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON PLASTICULTURE APPLICATIONS IN HORTICULTURE (NCPAH)

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE,

DEPARMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE,

GOVERNMENT OF , NEW DELHI

Dr. R.K. Dilip Singh, PI, & Dr. Ng. Joykumar Singh,

Co-PI, PFDC, CAU Imphal Centre

College of Agriculture

Central Agricultural University, Imphal

Name of the cluster: Reiek District: District State: Mizoram Crop: Dragon Fruit

A brief report of visit to Reiek PI & Co-PI, PFDC, CAU, Imphal had visited Reiek - the cluster site for value chain development of dragon fruit in Mizoram on 7th July, 2017 and stayed there till 10th of July, 2017. PI & Co-PI had a thorough discussion about the value chain study with representatives (officials) of SHM, Mizoram headed by Mr. Vanlalruata, Dy. Director, Horticulture, Govt. of Mizoram and Mr. K. Lalduhawma, Addl. Director, Horticulture, Govt. of Mizoram.

On second day, we had field visit to Reiek cluster site to assess the status of the dragon fruit production scenario and post production practices and the same is reflected in the template.

During the visit, we had an interaction with the progressive farmers. Most of the progressive farmers expressed their desire of getting financial assistance for meeting the expenditure in the installation of support and training as well as drip irrigation system in the orchard.

On 10th July, 2017, we met Mission Director, SHM (Director of Horticulture) along with her officials and exchanged ideas and shared views about value chain development of dragon fruit in the state of Mizoram. Mission director, SHM and her Officials expressed their concern for revision of financial assistance to beneficiaries under MIDH from present 1.2 lakh to about 2 lakh.

Area coverage under Dragon fruit cultivation in Mizoram District Year Total (ha.)

2014-2015 2015- 2016 2016-2017

Aizawl 20 110 80 210

Lunglei 4 - 40 44

Lawngtlai 4 - 5 9

Serchhip 4 - 10 14

Khawzawl - - 5 5

Tuidam- 4 50 40 94

Kolasib 4 20 30 54

Total 40 180 210 430

TEMPLATE FOR VALUE CHAIN STUDY IN DRAGON FRUIT, CLUSTER- REIEK, MIZORAM Managing the Planting material: inputs: Availability of planting material in the form of  Source (a) T.C. Labs – Not available  Quality (b) Seed Infrastructure - Not available (c) Nurseries – Done based on Individual  Prices nurseries

Fertilizer use pattern - Growers presently used Urea (50g), SSP (50g), MOP(100g)/plant along with FYM, basin application, during May, August and October (source : Horticulture Department, Mizoram) Pesticides – Normally used Inorganic Source Water Management -  Micro – In few orchards drip irrigation was used through gravitational means  Conventional (with details) – Survey Normally ring method was used, source of water from perennial stream and rain water harvesting

Credit Facility - Not initiated

Organising Cultural practices (Field preparation) –

Production Plantation done on Contour terrace

INM – Yet to be standardised, presently growers have followed cultural tips provided by Dept. of Horticulture, Govt. of Mizoram IPM practices – Yet to be standardised Organic manure –

Locally available organic manure such as FYM is used Status of technology adopted: Whether standard ICAR package of practices adopted by farmers? – Not yet

Post Production  Cleaning – Done manually Practices  Sorting - Done manually

 Packing practices – Normally used local method

and in limited sc plastic scale plastic crate and

corrugated fibre board (CFB)  Post Production  Primary processing – yet to be started Practices Contd.,  Storage facilities – Yet to be developed  Market Linkages: How and when farmers sell their produce – Local based market, occasionally in small consignment to Delhi

Institutional Gaps Organisation of farmers into FPO/FIGs and other  Credit producer groups: gap Not Available  Insurance  Whether FPO aggregate produce - gap  Extension No, yet to be develop gap  If yes, how and when FPO sell the produce

 Status of Skill Development – Provided by Dept. of Horticulture, Govt. of Mizoram to farmers and growers.

Public Private Partnership models (if any) - Not available Others Infrastructure for :

 Quality planting material – Yet to initiate Identification  Irrigation/water – Yet to develop of Gaps

PHM :

 Pack houses - Not available  Ripening chamber - Not available  Cold storage/ Controlled atmosphere (CA) storage – Establishment underway at under MIDH

 Sorting/grading - Lacking

 Packaging lines – Promotion needed Infrastructure  Primary processing centre – Yet to develop Gaps  Mobile processing centre - Yet to develop Availability of PHM infrastructure:  Cold storage - Establishment underway at Sairang under MIDH  Pack houses – Initiative taken for development of one pack house for each District.  Ripening chamber - Not available  Primary processing centre - Not available

ACTIONABLE POINTS THAT CAN BE UNDERTAKEN BY THE STATE UNDER VALUE CHAIN ENHANCEMENT PROJECT

A. Production Sector:

1. Supporting framework structure of dragon fruit plantation needs to be strong and durable to sustain the whole load of the plants. RCC post with cross bars on the top to be recommended.

2. Provision for R & D in INM and IPM may be included.

3. Establishment of large scale production of quality planting material/ nursery raising programme scheme by the Dept. of Horticulture, Govt. of Mizoram, is suggested for onward distribution to the farmers/ SHGs for massive production.

4. Plant Protection measures needs to be taken up.

5. Standardization of spacing for optimum and sustainable production is recommended.

6. Water management through drip irrigation (gravitational) requires promotion and strengthening.

7. Suitable types of powered machines for weeding/ inter culture need to be taken up.

8. Capacity building measures be done periodically.

B. Packaging Sector:

9. Collection of dragon fruits on the plastic crates, CFB for transportation to reduce the crushing and bruising of the skins be implemented and strengthened.

10. Sorting ,grading, wrapping, cushioning be adopted

C. Processing Sector:

11. Mobile Processing Van is to be initiated.

12. Constructions of Zero Energy Cool Chamber at the growing site for temporary storage before the fruits are transported to the cool warehouses be introduced.

13. Establishment of cold storage units be ensured.

14. Value added products such as jam, squash,wine may be taken.

D. Organisation Sector:

15. Formation FPO,FIG,SHG be strengthen

16. Initiatives for credit linkage with financial institutions be activated

17. Provision for financial assistance for the construction of supporting structure may be made available to the growers.

E. Marketing Sector:

18. Fruit Vendor be mobilized like subji Mandi

19. Market Linkage with outside state agency needs to establish by the State government.

20. Buy back system of the dragon fruits by the government agency (Dept. of Horticulture, Govt. of Mizoram) from the growers needs to be promoted.

PHOTO GALLERY OF SURVEY PROGRAMME IN CONNECTION WITH VALUE CHAIN STUDY OF DRAGON FRUIT AT REIEK

PI & Co. PI with HDO, Aizwal Fruiting stage

PI & Co-PI interacting with growers and officials plantation site at Reiek, Mizoram

Dragon fruit rooted Drip layout of Dragon Fruit at Reiek, Mizoram cutting Mizoram

Occurrence of Pest and Support system Fruiting Stages Disease