China is fast becoming a leading producer of dragonfruit (Pitaya). According to China’s Southern Daily newspaper, China had only 3,400 hectares of dragonfruit in 2011. In 2018 the total area had increased substantially to 40,000 hectares, with more additional areas expected in the coming years. In 2019, it was reported that the total area has expanded to 50,000 hectares, close behind Vietnam currently the leading producer in the world with a total area of 55,000 hectares. Dragonfruit in China is mostly grown in Guangxi, Guangdong, Yunnan, Guizhou and Hainan Provinces.
There are about 20,000 hectares (more than 40% of China’s total area) of dragonfruit grown in Guangxi Province, a province in Southwest China, right above Vietnam.
Guangxi Jianian Agriculture Co. Ltd (Niceyea Agriculture) which was established in 2012, is one of the companies operating in this province to venture into large scale commercial planting of dragonfruit. The company is one of the earliest farms established in an area totalling 200 hectares in Yi Ling village, Wu Ming District about 60 minutes from capital Nanning City centre. The main variety grown is a Taiwan variety locally called ‘Ruanzhi Dahong’ or ‘soft branch and deep red’ variety.
The farm practices state of the art production techniques including high density trellis system of planting, fertigation system for fertilizing and irrigation, use of insect and light traps to control pests, night illumination with LEDs to promote floral induction during the winter months, plastic cover during the cold season to prevent chilling injury, and use of ornamental ground cover to control weeds and maintain farm sanitation.
The company has received numerous awards at district, province and national level on the production of high quality produce and various certifications pertaining to good agricultural practices, quality management, food safety and traceability system.
The farm also functions as a nucleus and training center to add capacity to surrounding farmers who have ventured into dragonfruit production.
Photos by Yacob Ahmad