India: Cyclones decimate jackfruit production
Posted by Labels: Cyclone Storm and Flood, Fruit, India, Jackfruit
Consumers in parts of southern India are going to struggle to establish a steady supply of jackfruit over the next five years, after cyclones uprooted trees last year.
Not a single fruit has arrived at market in Koyambedu, near Chennai this year, despite the fact that the season should have commenced in December and would ordinarily run until June.
The fruits can be imported from other areas, but some locals say that these are not as good as the ones they are used to, claiming the climate and soil conditions ensure they are very tasty.
"Even jackfruits from nearby Cuddalore and Chidambaram are no match for Panruti jackfruits," Mr R. Sridhar.
Around 700ha of trees were uprooted in the storms, out of a total of 1,000ha. This has brought the harvest of fruit down from its usual 20,000 tonnes, to just 4,000 tonnes - not enough to meet even local demand.
Farmers have been given high yielding varieties to try and rehabilitate the local industry, but it will take five years before they are able to bare fruit.
Deccan Chronicle
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