Jackfruit farmers miss on export opportunities

Visakhapatnam: Though there is a huge demand for organic jackfruit in the international market, but the the horticulture farmers are failing to cash in on it due to lack of processing units and marketing support. In the past few years, the jackfruit is one of the most remunerative fruits and the cultivation is also doubling every year, particularly in north Andhra region.

Kerala is exporting jackfruit after processing. There is a big demand for AP brand fruits and flowers. But the government should promote it by setting up processing units. In the US, 10 quality jackfruit pieces of flesh are being sold at $ 2.5- $ 3.

As there is no processing unit in north Andhra and Godavari districts, the farmers are selling green jackfruit in domestic market only. The fruit is having huge number of medicinal values and there is a big demand in global markets.

In the current year, the crop yield in Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and East Godavari districts is more than 150 per cent compared with last year. Not only in number of fruits, this time the weight and quality have also increased.

There are almost 10 varieties of jackfruits available in north Andhra region including Kajja, Kobbari, Tenepanasa, Lavakusulu, Yelugubanti (outside black in colour), Boorugupanasa and Buradapanasa. The Kobbaripanasa and Lavakusulu varieties have 10-day life after harvesting the fruit. “In the past three seasons, the crop yield is one-and-a-half times more.

At an average, there are 60-70 fruits in the present season and there are 100 fruits on tree also. Except selling ripe pieces at Rs 20-30 per dozen there is no good returns. If the fruit can be exported, we will get good revenue. But we don’t have that much knowledge,” says B Lakshmana Rao, who won the auction for 3,000 trees located on Simhachalam hills.