74-Year-Old Creates 20+ Dragon Fruit Varieties in Kerala

Joseph Karackadu paid $7 for a dragon fruit during a family visit to the US eight years ago, and that single bite changed his retirement plans completely. The 74-year-old from Kottayam, Kerala, was so captivated by the fruit's sweet taste and easy growing potential that he decided to abandon traditional retirement and become a farmer.

After decades running a machine tools business in Hyderabad, Joseph converted a small plot near his Changanassery home into Karackadu Orchards. With his children's support, he began collecting dragon fruit varieties from Taiwan, Brazil, the Philippines, Australia, Ecuador, and the US.

What amazed Joseph most was how forgiving the plant could be. "Even if you leave a stem on the farm, it will grow roots and find its grip easily within a few days," he explains.

The orchard now grows more than 20 different types of dragon fruit. But Joseph didn't stop at collecting existing varieties.

After years of careful experimentation, he developed two completely new breeds called Red Chilli and Wonder Boy. Creating a new variety takes at least five years from development to official approval, but Joseph's patience is delivering results that farmers across India are eager to buy.

Why This Inspires

Joseph's story proves that curiosity and passion don't have age limits. While most people his age are slowing down, he's building something entirely new from scratch.

His dedication to quality means he tastes the fruit from each stem before planting it commercially. Only the most delicious varieties make it to his customers.

Today, Joseph receives regular bulk orders from Gujarat, Maharashtra, and other states, earning around Rs 1 lakh monthly. Individual stems sell for Rs 800 to Rs 4,000 depending on the variety, and international buyers pay extra for shipping.

The fast-growing plants spread wide, so Joseph only replants when large orders come in. He's now planning to move beyond just selling plants and start offering fresh dragon fruit directly to consumers.

With several new varieties still in development, this Kerala farmer is proving that the best adventures can begin after 70.