A government effort to obtain organic certification for jackfruit produced in the State is in the final stages, Agriculture Minister V.S. Sunil Kumar said on Wednesday.
The Minister was speaking after inaugurating the ‘Chakkavandi,’ an initiative of the Panasa Farmers’ Producer Company for selling ready-to-eat jackfruit-based dishes in the State capital. The Department has prepared a logo for branding the jackfruit as part of the certification effort, he said.
While jackfruit is produced in plantations in other States, in Kerala, it is gathered from individual trees in private land. Initial estimates show that the fruit is grown in 1.5 lakh hectares in the State. However, the government does not intend to establish jackfruit plantations, but places emphasis on collection of the fruit and value addition. V.S. Sivakumar, MLA, presided over the function. Panasa FPC was formed by Chappath Santhigram with the help of NABARD.
At Press Club
In the first phase, the jackfruit vehicle will park behind the Secretariat, near the Press Club, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day. For ₹50 you can buy 200 gms of ‘Chakkapuzhukku’ and chammanthi. You will have to shell out another ₹20 for fish curry. Chakkavandi also promises 200 products including cakes, jalebis, murukku, halwa, mixture and rolls made from jackfruit. For 'Chakkasadya' (₹150), you need to book in advance.
