Tapping is toast, now a jackfruit revolution in the making

Varghese Tharakan has developed the ‘Ayurjack’ variety that can be grown in small households and bears fruits that are plucked from the ground.

Varghese Tharakan from Velur grama panchayat in the district is creating a jackfruit revolution of sorts with the ‘Ayurjack’ variety. When he felled the 6- and 12-year-old rubber trees on his five acres at Kurumal Kunnu in the panchayat for planting jackfruit saplings, nobody took him seriously.

But two years down the line, people from far and near, including experts from reputed foreign universities such as Colorado and Adelaide and a BBC team, have visited his Ayurjack plantation to see a farming miracle on a sloppy hill area, 16 km from Thrissur.

The fruit-bearing jackfruit trees, hardly seven to eight ft high, are a treat for the eyes. They can be grown in small housing plots of two to three cents or even on the terrace in a big drum.

Ayurjack is a jackfruit variety developed by Mr. Tharakan. It bears the sweet ‘Varikka’ variety of jackfruit in one-and-a-half years under proper care.

“Ayurjack is my experiment towards achieving food security. Jackfruit is a staple food, which also fights many diseases, including diabetes.

“It is a gluten-free fruit, which can prevent even cancer. Unlike normal varieties of jackfruit trees, Ayurjack gives fruits throughout the year if properly maintained,” says Mr. Tharakan, who is also an active public worker.

Rainwater harvesting

His scientifically designed five-acre plantation is a perfect model for rainwater harvesting. Small trenches are dug up to create many layers on the hill slopes to harvest every drop of rainwater.

“Even with an additional rainfall of 42% this year, most of the wells in the State have already dried up. Children are playing football on the sand bed of the Bharathapuzha, which breached its banks just three months ago.”

With his simple technique of rainwater harvesting, Mr. Tharakan has ensured water security not only for his plantation, but also for the 35-odd households around it. His rainwater harvesting method on the five acres replenished the groundwater table in the area. As a result, wells in the surroundings now have sufficient water throughout the year.

Even when neighbouring Kuranchery, with the same geographical structure, reported 19 deaths in landslips during the deluge, Mr. Tharakan harvested each drop of the torrential rain to ensure water safety. Water from even walking paths is directed to the trenches. Mr. Tharakan’s method of farming by dividing land into layers by digging trenches can be effectively replicated in the high ranges and other hill areas to prevent landslips. “The government should provide subsidies to the farmers to dig trenches and set the land.”

Pure air

Another remarkable advantage of the jackfruit tree is that it generates lots of oxygen. “Studies show that a jackfruit tree will generate 13.16 tonnes of oxygen a year. This means my 1,000-odd trees will generate 13,160 tonnes of oxygen,” he says.

No wonder, Mr. Tharakan’s Ayurjack plantation has been included on the preliminary list for WAFA (Water, Air, Food Awards), which promotes sustainable solutions that ensure safe drinking water, clean air and food for all. He is also the winner of the State government’s Shony Mitra award for soil and water conservation. His model of farming was presented at the London School of Economics.

When football fever gripped the world during the World Cup, Mr. Tharakan planted 32 jackfruit trees, in the name of 32 teams that played in the cup.

“The State records 14-15 deaths a year owing to accidents when felling jackfruits. Even a child can pick the fruit with hands from Ayurjack,” he notes. Mr. Tharakan has a request to the government: Agriculture should be included in the syllabus in schools.

Many have asked me why I had cut down the healthy rubber trees. “Price cut for rubber was not the only reason for felling the tress. I felt the fertile land in the area should be used for some other crops. Rubber would dry up the entire area by absorbing water. My social commitment also prompts me to turn to Ayurjack.”

If Varghese Kurian (Amul Kurian) took the country to self-sufficiency in milk production though White Revolution, here is Varghese Tharakan, who prepares for a jackfruit revolution to achieve food security.