From Army to Agriculture: 61-Year-Old Makes Rs 4 Lakh Growing Dragon Fruit
After serving the nation in the Indian Army and later the Odisha Police, most people would expect retirement to be a time to slow down. But for 61-year-old Pratap Chandra Roul , it marked the beginning of an entirely new journey.
The Balasore resident returned to his village with a dream of becoming a farmer. Today, that decision has turned a small 8,500 sq ft plot into a thriving organic dragon fruit farm that earns him up to Rs 4 lakh annually through fruit sales and saplings.
A New Mission After Retirement
Pratap, a resident of Mukulishi village in Odisha's Balasore district, joined the Indian Army in 1984 after completing his matriculation. He retired from the Army in 2010 and later served as a Havildar in the Odisha Police for another 10 years before taking voluntary retirement in 2020.
Instead of choosing a quiet retired life, he decided to enter farming despite having no agricultural experience.
Speaking about his decision, Pratap said, "I wanted to become a farmer and cultivate something that people in my area had not eaten before. I also wanted to prove that even a small piece of land can generate a good income if it is managed properly. So I zeroed in on dragon fruit farming ."
Learning Farming From Scratch
With no farming background, Pratap spent months researching different crops. He watched YouTube videos, joined online farming communities and interacted with experienced growers to understand which crop would suit Odisha's climate.
After careful study, dragon fruit stood out as the best choice.
"I realised dragon fruit requires comparatively less water, performs well in hot weather and once planted, it can remain productive for nearly 25 years. That convinced me to take the risk,," he explained.
Investing in Dragon Fruit Cultivation
In March 2022, Pratap invested around Rs 1.3 lakh to establish his farm. He bought 1,000 dragon fruit plants, installed concrete poles and GI pipes, and introduced seven premium varieties sourced from Gujarat, including Vietnam Red, Thai Jumbo, Moroccan Red, Hybrid Giant Red, Israeli Yellow, Taiwan Pink and White dragon fruit.
To make the most of his limited land, he adopted a high-density railing system instead of the traditional pole method, allowing him to grow more plants in the same area.
Early Failure Became a Lesson
The first harvest in March 2023 produced only about 50 kg of fruit, and the fruits were much smaller than expected.
Rather than giving up, Pratap analysed what had gone wrong.
"I was disappointed and didn’t even take them to the market. Instead of giving up, I decided to understand where I had gone wrong," he said.
Organic Methods Changed Everything
Pratap shifted entirely to organic farming and prepared his own natural fertiliser using cow dung, cow urine, earthworms, soil, fruit and vegetable waste, and onion waste.
The change significantly improved plant health, resulting in larger fruits and steadily increasing yields.
Production and Income Grew Rapidly
His efforts started paying off in 2024 when the farm produced nearly 200 kg of dragon fruit, earning around Rs 50,000 as buyers willingly paid more for organically grown produce.
The following year brought even bigger success. Between April and November 2025, the farm yielded around 900 kg of dragon fruit. Around 650 kg were sold directly to customers at nearly Rs 220 per kg, while the remaining produce was supplied to wholesalers at about Rs 200 per kg. Fruit sales alone generated close to Rs 1.4 lakh.
Pratap remains optimistic about future earnings.
"So far this year, I have already sold around 650 kg of fruits and earned nearly Rs 1.40 lakh. I expect another 800 kg of fruits between now and November, taking my total income from dragon fruit this season to around Rs 3 lakh," he said.
Extra Income Through Saplings and More Crops
Apart from selling fruits, Pratap also cultivates around 2,000 dragon fruit saplings every year, adding another Rs 50,000 to his income.
He has even created a rooftop dragon fruit garden with 22 plants that produce around 20 kg of fruit annually. During the off-season, he focuses on pruning and preparing the plants for the next crop.
Looking ahead, Pratap has also successfully experimented with strawberries on a small patch of land and plans to expand their cultivation to earn income when dragon fruit is not in season.
A Small Farm With a Big Message
Pratap Chandra Roul's journey proves that retirement can be the beginning of something remarkable. Through continuous learning, smart planning and organic farming, he transformed a modest plot into a profitable venture, inspiring others to see agriculture as a rewarding opportunity rather than just a traditional occupation.
The Balasore resident returned to his village with a dream of becoming a farmer. Today, that decision has turned a small 8,500 sq ft plot into a thriving organic dragon fruit farm that earns him up to Rs 4 lakh annually through fruit sales and saplings.
A New Mission After Retirement
Pratap, a resident of Mukulishi village in Odisha's Balasore district, joined the Indian Army in 1984 after completing his matriculation. He retired from the Army in 2010 and later served as a Havildar in the Odisha Police for another 10 years before taking voluntary retirement in 2020.Instead of choosing a quiet retired life, he decided to enter farming despite having no agricultural experience.
Speaking about his decision, Pratap said, "I wanted to become a farmer and cultivate something that people in my area had not eaten before. I also wanted to prove that even a small piece of land can generate a good income if it is managed properly. So I zeroed in on dragon fruit farming ."
Learning Farming From Scratch
With no farming background, Pratap spent months researching different crops. He watched YouTube videos, joined online farming communities and interacted with experienced growers to understand which crop would suit Odisha's climate. After careful study, dragon fruit stood out as the best choice.
"I realised dragon fruit requires comparatively less water, performs well in hot weather and once planted, it can remain productive for nearly 25 years. That convinced me to take the risk,," he explained.
Investing in Dragon Fruit Cultivation
In March 2022, Pratap invested around Rs 1.3 lakh to establish his farm. He bought 1,000 dragon fruit plants, installed concrete poles and GI pipes, and introduced seven premium varieties sourced from Gujarat, including Vietnam Red, Thai Jumbo, Moroccan Red, Hybrid Giant Red, Israeli Yellow, Taiwan Pink and White dragon fruit.To make the most of his limited land, he adopted a high-density railing system instead of the traditional pole method, allowing him to grow more plants in the same area.
Early Failure Became a Lesson
The first harvest in March 2023 produced only about 50 kg of fruit, and the fruits were much smaller than expected. Rather than giving up, Pratap analysed what had gone wrong.
"I was disappointed and didn’t even take them to the market. Instead of giving up, I decided to understand where I had gone wrong," he said.
Organic Methods Changed Everything
Pratap shifted entirely to organic farming and prepared his own natural fertiliser using cow dung, cow urine, earthworms, soil, fruit and vegetable waste, and onion waste.You may also like
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The change significantly improved plant health, resulting in larger fruits and steadily increasing yields.
Production and Income Grew Rapidly
His efforts started paying off in 2024 when the farm produced nearly 200 kg of dragon fruit, earning around Rs 50,000 as buyers willingly paid more for organically grown produce. The following year brought even bigger success. Between April and November 2025, the farm yielded around 900 kg of dragon fruit. Around 650 kg were sold directly to customers at nearly Rs 220 per kg, while the remaining produce was supplied to wholesalers at about Rs 200 per kg. Fruit sales alone generated close to Rs 1.4 lakh.
Pratap remains optimistic about future earnings.
"So far this year, I have already sold around 650 kg of fruits and earned nearly Rs 1.40 lakh. I expect another 800 kg of fruits between now and November, taking my total income from dragon fruit this season to around Rs 3 lakh," he said.
Extra Income Through Saplings and More Crops
Apart from selling fruits, Pratap also cultivates around 2,000 dragon fruit saplings every year, adding another Rs 50,000 to his income.He has even created a rooftop dragon fruit garden with 22 plants that produce around 20 kg of fruit annually. During the off-season, he focuses on pruning and preparing the plants for the next crop.
Looking ahead, Pratap has also successfully experimented with strawberries on a small patch of land and plans to expand their cultivation to earn income when dragon fruit is not in season.
A Small Farm With a Big Message
Pratap Chandra Roul's journey proves that retirement can be the beginning of something remarkable. Through continuous learning, smart planning and organic farming, he transformed a modest plot into a profitable venture, inspiring others to see agriculture as a rewarding opportunity rather than just a traditional occupation. 
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