“Our Ancestors had survived by consuming Jackfruit, when paddy was not sufficient for consumption” expressed a farmer at ‘Jackfruit Mela’.
True to the words, Jackfruit was once upon a time a form of staple food in Kodagu. These trees were retained to provide shade to the Cardamom. Then the traditional cardamom growing areas were converted to coffee plantations. However coffee required more sunlight, leading to felling down of many supporting trees, including Jackfruit
Unlike other perennial crops, Jackfruit does not require any cultural operations. It is already present in abundance in Kodagu including barren and waste lands. These plants can be profitably exploited by harvesting the fruits at different stages of maturity and converting them into various products like Jackfruit chips, burfee, halwa, peda, papads and so on.
The coffee plantations, bordering forest areas face the problem of elephant menace as elephants are attracted by Jackfruits. This has led to a serious problem leading to ‘Man Animal Conflict’. In order to avoid the menace of animals, many farmers started removing immature fruits and throwing them, leading to wastage of raw materials. In India Jackfruit worth Rs.215.40 crores has been wasted every year.
In order to create awareness among people of Kodagu, Jackfruit Mela was organized jointly by University Of Agricultural Sciences Bangalore, College of Forestry, Ponnampet and Agricultural Research Centre.
The University Of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, has for the first time, set up ‘Jack Fruit Growers Association’, where Kodagu district growers of the fruit can be benefited.
In Kodagu, emphasis must be given to the development of Jack Fruit cultivation. Government should not only provide subsidy alone but should also provide marketing facilities. Community based marketing is essential to market jackfruit.Self Hep Group and Stree Shakthi organisation should come forward to popularize Jackfruit in Kodagu through Value Addition. However the commitment of farmers and Government assistance will surely take Kodagu farmers ahead of others in Jackfruit cultivation.