Mangaluru: A farmer from Ira village in Mudipu has diversified his six-acre farm by cultivating around 50 varieties of exotic fruits alongside traditional areca and rubber.Abdul Khader, from a farming family, said he took the initiative to avoid depending entirely on areca and to adopt an integrated approach to agriculture.He told TOI he initially cultivated paddy before continuing with areca, which had been practised since his father’s time. He later planted rubber in 2015 and began introducing exotic fruit varieties around the same period, gradually expanding the number of crops by experimenting with varieties suited to the region.Khader said the shift was driven by uncertainty in areca prices. “Depending on areca alone is risky. I felt it would be difficult in the long run, so I planned to integrate different crops,” he said.He began with rambutan, followed by mangosteen grown within areca plantations, and later introduced dragon fruit in open spaces.Not all exotic fruits proved commercially viable. Khader said excessive rainfall in the coastal region affects crops such as dragon fruit and Vietnam Super Early jackfruit, which are prone to rot and fungus, while mangosteen and rambutan are more tolerant.He said he drew inspiration from Kerala, where farmers cultivate a wide range of tropical fruits. Some varieties, including litchi and longan sourced from nurseries, failed to yield results, while others were affected by fungal infections during heavy rains. “Only varieties suited to tropical conditions can succeed here,” he said.Alongside farming, Khader has started a small-scale nursery to supply saplings of suitable varieties and conducts awareness drives urging farmers not to depend solely on areca.While areca remains his primary source of income, Khader said integrated farming helps maintain balance. He sells produce mainly in local markets around Mudipu, with some buyers visiting his farm directly. He plans to introduce more varieties such as durian and Mamey Sapote.
