Although poor rainfall has come as a setback for certain crops such as paddy, sugarcane, and maize, it has come as a boon for jackfruit. Jackfruit growers anticipate a higher yield this season as compared with last year’s harvest.
According to jackfruit growers, the poor realisation of rainfall has facilitated an increase in the yield. It would help increase the number of carpel in each fruit.
Arimalam, Gandarvakottai, and part of Tiruvarangulam account for a large area in jackfruit. G.S. Dhanapathy, a progressive farmer, points out that although jackfruit could withstand drought-prone condition, the arrivals were late.
The sale of jackfruits in market was yet to pick up. He hopes that the arrivals would pick up in a few weeks. The seedless jack, which forms an important culinary for various dishes in this part of the region, would fetch attractive returns.
The severe damage caused by a cyclone to the jackfruit trees in Panruti on January 1, 2012, has resulted in a growing demand for the Gandarvakottai and Thanjavur jackfruits, he added. On an average, 100 fruits would be harvested from a fully grown and properly maintained tree.
Horticulture scientists said the taste of the fruits would be more delicious, if summer showers were realised in the middle of April or early May.
