BANGALORE: Experts have suggested marketing jackfruit as a health food that can be consumed by people with diabetes.
At an international symposium on jackfruit and breadfruit held at the University of Agricultural Sciences in the city on Thursday, experts discussed ways to popularise the fruit in the global market. The symposium was inaugurated by G V Krishna Rao, additional chief secretary and development commissioner of the state government.
Rao called for financial help to small farmers so that they can store rainwater and use it to cultivate their lands. Then they can grow tree crops like jackfruit, he said.
P Rajendra, Vice-Chancellor of Kerala Agricultural University, said jackfruit trees once contributed to 5-10 per cent of the greenery in Kerala, but things have changed for the worse now. He said jackfruit is a low-calorie food with high fibre content and could be freeze-dried and consumed by diabetics.
Crop of the Future
D L Maheshwar, director of the state Horticulture Department, described jackfruit as the “crop of the future” and assured that schemes like the National Horticulture Mission would offer complete support to jackfruit growers.
K Narayana Gowda, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Agricultural Sciences, said jackfruit production should be encouraged as it can survive in both high and low rainfall areas.