An international workshop to explore the various uses of jackfruit will be held in Wayanad in November, Minister for Agriculture V.S. Sunil Kumar has said.
He was speaking after inaugurating the Ananthapuri Chakka Mahotsavam at Kanakakkunnu here on Friday.
The Minister said representatives from 14 countries would attend the workshop being organised by the Agriculture Department and Kerala Agricultural University.
The government, he said, was trying to promote value-addition of farm products. This included jackfruit and coconut. If jackfruit cultivation was to be commercialised, various types of jackfruit available in the State, the types that need to be preserved, their importance, and possibilities of jackfruit should be studied in detail. The KAU had been entrusted with research in this connection, he said.
Farmers from other States, people associated with technology and industry, and those from international organisations would attend the workshop, which was expected to focus on food safety and more returns for farmers from jackfruit, he said.
Factory at Mala
The Minister said a jackfruit factory at Mala under the Agriculture Department that was set up two years ago would start functioning in July under the aegis of Kerala Agro Industries Corporation.
Focus would also be on value-addition of honey. The State was not even utilising half its potential for honey production. A mission for boosting honey production would start in the State.
The government, he said, had set aside funds in this year’s Budget for purchase of world-class technology so as to benefit small-scale agro-industries.
The Minister said that like ‘kanji’ and tuber crops, jackfruit used to be the food of the poor. Today, kanji and tapioca figured on the menu of five-star hotels. An attempt to raise the status of jackfruit too should be made.
K. Muraleedharan, MLA, presided over the function.
The Minister released a book on medicinal properties of jackfruit. Jackfruit Promotion Council chairman Rufus Daniel was present.
The festival will conclude on July 9.
