The Jack & Fruit fest was organized in joint collaboration with JCI and Navateja at Jaina Bhavana, Puttur during 17th-18th June, 2023. The fest was inaugurated by Chief Guest Dr. S. K. Singh, Director, ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru and guest of honour Dr. Prakash Patil, PC (AICRP-Fruits), ICAR-IIHR and other dignitaries. In the inaugural speech, Dr. S K. Singh opined that there is a need for farmers to identify and get their unique jackfruit variety register with PPVFRA, since lot of diversity is observed in western ghats which helps the farmer to get more revenue in the form of royalty and also helps in conservation and commercialization of local/desi type of Jackfruit. Dr. Prakash Patil highlighted that the farmers should not only concentrate on identifying unique types but they should also look it in business angle in collaboration with stakeholders for value addition and commercial nursery raising etc.
During panel discussion and technical session, Mr. Ashok Kumar Rai (M.L.A., Puttur constituency) urged to utilize the benefit and support of organization & stakeholders and to come up with good outcome. Dr. G. Karunakaran, Principal Scientist, ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru and other members stated that the stakeholders in jackfruit sector should make efforts to bring at least 60 per cent of the production to the processing sector and need to identify jackfruits suitable for different purposes like tender jacks emerging as vegan meat etc. the other minor fruits should be brought into the commercial scale since the fruits have lot of medicinal value.
The fest was attended by nearly 15,000 farmers, stakeholders and 50 outlets/ stalls were displayed with different jackfruit products and IIHR displayed jackfruit varieties. Specially Siddu and Shankara jack flakes attracted consumers. The feast was organised and coordinated by Dr. G. Karunakaran, Principal Scientist, ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru.
