Dragon fruit now produced with DOST solar system

By Maria Teresa B. Benas

DANGLAS, Abra – This province now produces off-season dragon fruit.

This, after the provincial Dept. of Science and Technology headed by Menandro Buenafe  has  installed  a solar system at the farm of Condrado  Sevillleja in Barangay Abacquid, Danglas   that facilitates the production of off-season dragon fruit.

       Buenafe said the solar system provides artificial lighting for the dragon fruit to prolong the fruiting period of the plants.

The solar system worth P750, 000.00 is a loan from the DOST payable in three years.

Sevilleja started his dragon fruit plantation four years ago with more than 2,000 cuttings he procured from the Dragon Fruit Farm in Burgos, Ilocos Norte. 

With the more than 2,000 cuttings, he was able to plant 700 posts.

      Today, there are now more than 3,000 posts planted in his two-hectare plantation that is part of his 18-hectare lot.

The solar system is effective, Sevilleja attests.  The peak of harvest season is usually from July to October. The plants start to bloom in May and fruiting starts in June. But with his solar system, the fruiting period is prolonged.

This year alone, Sevilleja said he able to harvest 7,000 kilos of dragon fruit. He sells his fruits in Bangued, La Union and Baguio City.  He also produces by-products such as moisturizing soap, wine and vinegar.     

Dragon fruit farming though not labor intensive requires a one-time big-time capitalization as the cactus needs posts to lean on, he shared. At the outset   he used wooden posts but because the wooden posts easily rot, he started pre-fabricating concrete posts and replaced the old wooden posts.

Sevilleja plans to expand his dragon fruit farming into an eco-tourism site because of the presence of the scenic Abot Waterfalls within his 18-hectare compound. His eco-tourism project is being assisted by the Department of Trade and Industry – Abra Provincial Office.

Sevilleja is a former Overseas Filipino worker in New Zealand and in Australia as an electrician. He is married to Anita Santos from Laoag City and they have three daughters who are now successful in their careers:  KC is an electrical engineer; Katrina is finishing her Master of Arts in International Relations in Melbourne, Australia and Kristel is a pharmacist.