Ayurjack variety yields fruits at arm’s length

A jackfruit ‘revolution’ to achieve food security

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-yearold 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,” Mr. Tharakan said.

23 Dec 2018 Thrissur.