Dragon Fruit in India: Import Trends, Competitiveness and a SWOC Perspective on Production and Marketing Prospects
V. Vishnupriya *
Institute of Agri-Business Management, CoA, GKVK, Banglore-5600 65, India.
C. P. Gracy
Institute of Agri-Business Management, CoA, GKVK, Banglore-5600 65, India.
M. S. Ganapathy
Institute of Agri-Business Management, CoA, GKVK, Banglore-5600 65, India.
Siddayya
Institute of Agri-Business Management, CoA, GKVK, Banglore-5600 65, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: The study analysed trends in dragon fruit imports into India, assessed import competitiveness, evaluated the comparative advantage of domestic production, and examined the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges (SWOC) associated with dragon fruit production and marketing.
Study Design: The study employed compound annual growth rate (CAGR), revealed comparative advantage (RCA), revealed symmetric comparative advantage (RSCA), policy analysis matrix (PAM), and strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges (SWOC) analyses.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted during 2023–24 in four major dragon fruit-growing districts of Karnataka, India: Chitradurga, Tumakuru, Bengaluru, and Chikkaballapur.
Methodology: Primary data were collected through structured interviews with 80 dragon fruit growers and 40 market intermediaries, while secondary trade data for 2015–2024 were obtained from published sources. CAGR was used to estimate import growth; RCA and RSCA were used to assess import competitiveness; PAM was used to evaluate comparative advantage and economic efficiency; and SWOC analysis was used to assess stakeholders' perceptions of dragon fruit production and marketing.
Results: Dragon fruit imports increased from 5,787 tonnes in 2015 to 57,062 tonnes in 2024, registering significant CAGRs of 28.79% in quantity and 26.00% in value. RCA increased from 0.13 to 0.59, while RSCA improved from −0.78 to −0.26, indicating increasing import dependence over time. PAM results showed private and social profits of ₹4,04,364 and ₹1,79,477 acre⁻¹ year⁻¹, respectively. A domestic resource cost of 0.55 and a social benefit–cost ratio of 1.61 confirmed the comparative advantage and economic efficiency of domestic production. SWOC analysis identified climate resilience, profitability, and growing demand as major strengths, while inadequate post-harvest infrastructure, climatic risks, weak market linkages, and a lack of standardisation were important constraints. Value addition, e-commerce, export development, and institutional support emerged as major opportunities.
Conclusion: India has considerable potential to expand domestic dragon fruit production competitively and reduce import dependence. Investments in quality planting material, climate-resilient production, post-harvest and cold-chain infrastructure, standardised grading, market linkages, and value addition can strengthen domestic competitiveness, improve farmers' incomes, and support import substitution.
Keywords: Dragon fruit, Hylocereus spp., import trends, revealed comparative advantage, revealed symmetric comparative advantage, policy analysis matrix, comparative advantage, import substitution, SWOC analysis.