The farmers in Jhenaidah do not show eagerness to expand the area of jackfruit trees. Lack of knowledge of the common people about the potential of the national fruit and its limited market was mainly liable for the situation, said the officials of the department of agriculture extension (DAE).
According to the sources of DAE in Jhenaidah, the farmers in Jhenaidah Sadar, Kaliganj, Kotchandpur, Moheshpur, Shailkupa and Harinakundu have produced 32,770 tons of jackfruit on 735 hectares of land.
They are going to harvest jackfruit on a total of 740 hectares and expecting 33,000 tones of the fruit in the current season when the cyclonic storm Amphan had damaged huge quantity of the national fruit recently.
A number of farmers at Shailkupa and Khalishpur upazila Moheshpur said the demand of the fruit is not much like mango, litchi, banana and some other juicy fruits.
As a result, they cannot reap optimum price from the fruit every year. Considering the situation for process, the farmers do not show eagerness for nursing the fruit bearing plants like others.
The farmers said they care the jackfruit plants considering its timber value as they can receive maximum price of the timber, not fruit. Many farmers use the fruit as fodder for their cattle heads during the season, not for human consumption, they added.
The sources said jackfruit contains high protein, potassium and vitamin B which are most important in in-taking rice or wheat. Further, the sugar and vitamin does not increase fat rather helps reduce night blindness, high pressure in blood and heart attack.
It also helps the pregnant mothers to keep herself and the baby she has been rearing in well increasing the breast milk. The abandoned part of the fruit is widely consumed by the cattle heads.
Deputy Director of DAE in Jhenaidah Kripangshu Sekhar Biswas when contacted said the common people are not aware enough about the nutrition of our national fruit.
Further, the jackfruit appears in the fruit season in summer when mango, litchi, banana, palm and some other juicy and tasty fruits are available in the market. As a result the people prefer other seasonal the fruits avoiding jackfruit.
As the fruits play a significant role in strengthening socio-economic state of the farmers, it also helps building a healthy nation for its nutritious aspects, they (DAE) has been providing training and awareness among the farmers engaged in fruit production to expand the area of farming, deputy director said.