Meet Pratap Chandra Roul: The retired Army man-turned-farmer earning Rs 4 lakh a year from a small dragon fruit farm

Pratap Chandra Roul, a retired Army man, established a successful dragon fruit farm. He learned farming techniques through online resources and chose dragon fruit for its low water needs. Roul invested in a railing system on a small plot, doubling his plant capacity. Initial yields were low, but organic methods improved production significantly. His farm now generates substantial income from fruit and sapling sales.

Stories of second innings, of starting from scratch with curiosity and determination, actually hit home and act no less than a ray of sunshine on a dull day.One such inspiring tale is that of a retired Army man who chose to farm dragon fruits and earn lakhs within just 3 years of business! Meet Pratap Chandra Roul: The retired Army man who built a thriving dragon fruit farm on a tiny plotPratap Chandra Roul spent over three decades in service, first with the Indian Army, which he joined in 1984 after his matriculation, and later with the Odisha Police as a Havildar. He voluntarily quit in 2020 and returned to his native village, Mukulishi, in Balasore district.According to 30Stades, Pratap wanted to become a farmer and grow something people in his area had not eaten before, while also proving that a small piece of land could generate good income if managed properly.

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Why he picked dragon fruit

With no prior farming background, Pratap taught himself through YouTube videos and online farming communities. He then decided to settle on dragon fruit. As he explains, the fruit requires comparatively less water, performs well in hot weather, and remains productive for nearly 25 years once planted, which convinced him to take the risk. The crop’s high market value, often exceeding Rs 200 per kg, made the decision easier.

A unique approach that helped him grow more

In March 2022, Pratap invested nearly Rs 1.3 lakh to set up his farm on just 20 decimals, or roughly 8,500 sq ft, of land. He sourced seven premium varieties from Gujarat and chose a railing system instead of the traditional pole method. He says that this approach let him plant more than ‘double the number of plants’ compared to conventional methods, which was important considering how small his landholding was.

His FIrst yield did not get expected results!

Like many, his first attempt was also lesser than expected. His harvest in March 2023 yielded only about 50 kg of undersized fruit, a disappointing start.But rather than giving up, Pratap began experimenting with organic nutrient combinations, developing his own compost using cow dung, cow urine, and vegetable waste. He says these organic manures completely changed the health of his plants, improving growth and steadily increasing production every year since.The production of his crop rose from 200 kg in 2024 to around 900 kg in 2025, which makes it nearly a 350% increase in the yield, and an expected total of roughly 1,450 kg this season, increasing his dragon fruit income to over Rs 3 lakh. He also sells around 2,000 saplings annually for Rs 50,000, and grows fruit in rooftop pots for extra income. Pratap is now piloting strawberry cultivation to supplement earnings during the dragon fruit off-season.

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