By Segun Adeyanju
Anshul Mishra, a 28-year-old computer science graduate, left his engineering career to pursue farming in his native village, Chilaua, in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
He now earns up to ₹20 lakh annually by cultivating dragon fruit and running a thriving nursery business.
Returning home in 2018, Anshul revived a barren one-acre family plot using organic methods like cow dung and nitrogen-rich crops.
While researching profitable crops, he discovered dragon fruit farming through YouTube and was drawn to its low maintenance and high yield.
He sourced 1,600 Red Moroccan dragon fruit saplings from Maharashtra and began cultivation.
Within 18 months, the plants began fruiting. Now expanded to five acres, his farm yields 25–30 quintals per acre, selling at ₹250/kg.
Anshul’s innovative ‘Chilaua Model’; a multilayer vertical farming technique—increases space efficiency by planting on walls and terraces using lightweight plastic pots.
His sustainable practices include homemade natural fertilisers and water-efficient irrigation.
Beyond fruit sales, his nursery generates ₹18 lakh annually from saplings.
His customer base spans Shahjahanpur, Bareilly, Hardoi, and Farrukhabad.
Dragon fruit has become a premium gift item in local ceremonies and among government officials.
Anshul’s success challenges the notion that profitable farming is out of reach. He encourages young people to take calculated risks and embrace modern, sustainable agriculture.
