Dragon fruit is a tropical fruit that has become increasingly popular in recent years. In Kenya, it is a relatively new crop, and being in the family of cactus, it grows in most arid and semi-arid conditions.
Dr. Monicah Waiganjo, a researcher and horticulture crop specialist, has been promoting the growing of the dragon fruit to farmers who are not aware of it.
“I call it a super fruit. Before I began promoting it, what it took was just having a taste of it, and I became interested to know more about it by carrying out research and gathering information on it “, she says.
Dr. Waiganjo, who used to work for KALRO but is now retired, told KNA during a recent farmers' field day held at Kabete Research institute that she visited farmers from Yatta, Meru, Makuyu, and Naivasha, where the fruit is found to learn more on it so that she can introduce it to farmers. When ripe, dragon fruit has a mildly sweet flavor and has a lot of health benefits, but according to a study I carried out, it is a desired fruit, yet the country is importing it from South Africa, Vietnam, and Israel,” she explained.
Read more at kenyanews.go.ke
