Opportunities of Dragon Fruit Cultivation in Bangladesh: An Analysis of Profitability and Employment Potential

This study investigates the impact of dragon fruit cultivation on income generation, profitability, and employment among farm households in Bangladesh, focusing on Jhenaidah and Chuadanga districts. As a recently introduced high-value crop, dragon fruit offers significant economic potential due to its adaptability, nutritional value, and strong market demand. Utilizing a mixed-method approach, primary data were collected from 160 dragon fruit farmers through structured household surveys. The Cobb-Douglas production function was employed to assess input-output relationships, revealing that labor, land preparation, seedlings, and fertilizer significantly influence income, with labor showing the highest elasticity (0.772). The estimated R-squared (0.898) suggests that the model explains a substantial portion of income variability. Cost-benefit analysis indicates a high benefit-cost ratio (1.83), confirming strong profitability. Furthermore, dragon cultivation contributes to increased labor force participation and reduced dependency ratios. Average daily working hours rose by 2.13, and full-time employment increased by over 7 days per month, indicating a shift from seasonal to year-round employment. These findings highlight the socio-economic benefits of dragon fruit cultivation and suggest that it is a viable tool for rural development. The study recommends supportive policies, input optimization, infrastructure investment, and market linkage to further enhance the profitability and sustainability of dragon fruit farming in Bangladesh.