Jackfruit growers in the red in Pudukottai district

Jackfruit growers of Vadakadu-Keeramangalam belt in Pudukottai district have been hit hard by the steep fall in the prices of the fruit this year.

Although the season started on a promising note with the fruits fetching about ₹30 a kg in April this year, the price has now slumped to ₹4-₹5 a kg. There are not many takers even at this price, farmers say.

“Many farmers have left the fruits in the trees as the current price would not even meet the cost of labour for harvesting. Tonnes of harvested fruits are rotting in fields and at wholesale markets as there are no takers,” said Thanga Kannan, a farmer of Senthankudi.

Jackfruit grown in this region is known for its taste and are widely sought after. Usually, there is good demand from traders for exporting the fruits to Mumbai and Bengaluru. But there is hardly any demand now, he said.

Jackfruit is grown in thousands of acres in scores of villages in the belt including Vadakadu, Mangadu, Keeramangalam, Anavayal, Senthankudi, Kothamangalam and Merpanaikadu in the district. Most farmers grow the fruit as an inter-crop in coconut groves. But there is a substantial number of farmers who raise it as their main crop. The fruits are normally harvested from February/March, which goes on for about three months.

“There was a delay in the crop coming to harvest this year; normally the harvest will begin by March. But this year we could begin harvest only in April and the fruits are still arriving at the market. Now, there is a glut and the prices have crashed,” said A .P. R. A. Ramasamy of Keeramangalam, who raises the fruit as an inter-crop in his coconut grove.

According to the farmers, they need at least ₹15 a kg to recoup the cost. They have to shell out ₹700-₹1,000 for labourers a day for harvesting the crop.

“I feel sad to see over two tonnes of the fruit rotting in my grove; after all it is a food product. Usually, I get an income of ₹6 lakh a year from jackfruit, but this year I have hardly got ₹2.5 lakh,” said Mr. Ramasamy.

Coconuts are fetching a good price this year and that is the only saving grace for farmers who raised them as inter-crop. But for those with jackfruit as the main crop, the situation is pretty bad, he added.

Local farmers have been urging the government to fix a minimum support price for the fruit. “The government should also promote value addition by establishing a factory here. There is good demand for value added products such as jackfruit powder,” said Mr. Thanga Kannan.