Mangaluru: Coastal Karnataka’s largest reported jackfruit orchard spread over about 10 acres near Moodbidri has begun yielding fruit now. Raised by a retired forest officer, it has specific varieties in large numbers to meet future industrial requirements for making value added products.

The orchard, owned by Gabriel Stany Veigas, who retired as district forest officer, at Neerakere in Tenka Mijar village, has about 650 trees, including 55 trees of J 33, a Malaysian variety, most sought after now both for eating and making value added products. Jackfruit varieties from the dry belt take time to adjust to the atmosphere in high rainfall areas. They are susceptible to diseases. Hence, it better to plant local varieties, he told.

According to Mr. Veigas the local varieties in his farm have not developed diseases since they were planted during 2013-14. For example, 200 trees of Prashanti and an equal number of Ananya varieties are robust. His farm has other varieties like Prakashchandra with 50 trees, which bore fruit twice in a year, and Basruru Bili Bakke and Athi Madhura.

When particular varieties are planted in large numbers they will meet the industrial requirement of “quantity, quality and uniformity” while making value added products like vacuum fry chips, he said.

Referring to the economics of profitability Mr. Veigas, 68, said that 65 jackfruit plants could be accommodated on an acre of land. When scientifically cultivated with manure and watering, a tree could bear 20-30 fruits.

Then a fruit would weigh 10-15 kg. One could get between ₹15 and ₹20 per a kg. One could earn an income of ₹2,500 to ₹3,000 per tree. Thus one could get a minimum income of ₹2 lakh per an acre by selling the fruits alone. If value added products were made from those fruits, the income could be doubled, he said.

Mr. Veigas adopted drip irrigation to water the plants. In addition, each plant has been provided with rainwater percolation pit to harvest rainwater.

Prompted by the jackfruit cultivation of Mr. Veigas, a neighbour has also planted 200 plants of J-33 variety on about two acres.

“If others also take such initiative it will help to ensure supply of a particular variety of jackfruit to the industry from a region for value addition. Then it will help both farmers and the industry,” he said.