Experts call for promoting jackfruit processing for its value addition

Agriculture experts and researchers have unequivocally called for promoting jackfruit processing for its value addition and protection from being wasted after the best uses of modern technologies.

There are bright prospects of adding value of the seasonal fruit so all the government and non-government entities concerned should come forward and work together to materialise the existing prospects.

They came up with the importance while addressing a workshop titled "Value Addition of Jackfruit through Postharvest Technologies and its Marketing Strategy -Ways to Move Forward" at Fruit Research Station (FRS) in Dhaka on Friday, reports BSS.

Postharvest Technology Division (PHTD) of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) and NewVision Solutions Limited hosted the workshop funded by Postharvest Management and Marketing of Jackfruits project of Krishi Gobeshona Foundation (KGF).

PHTD Senior Scientific Officer Dr Golam Ferdous Chowdhury and NewVision Project Manager Kaiser Alam presented two keynote papers on 'Postharvest Loss Reduction Technologies of Jackfruit' and 'Value Chain Development and Marketing Strategy of Jackfruit' respectively.

Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture Kamalaranjan Das addressed the meeting as chief guest, while PHTD Chief Scientific Officer Hafizul Haque Khan was in the chair.

FRS Principal Scientific Officer Dr Alim Uddin welcomed the participants.  

Dr Ferdous Chowdhury told the audience that a jackfruit can weigh between 5 and 30 kilograms and contain hundreds of seeds that are rich in protein, potassium, calcium, and iron -- all of which are important for growth.

"It's a miracle. It can provide so many nutrients and calories -everything," he added.

Anyone might be surprised to know that jackfruit - the national fruit of Bangladesh - is a fruit in high demand all over the world, he also said.

Reportedly, up to 50 percent of jackfruits grown in Bangladesh valued at around Taka 500 crore have been wasted because the fruit is rotten if it's not eaten or preserved within a few weeks, Dr Ferdous said.

So, proper collection, management, processing technology and conservation is very important for substantial and sustainable reduction of the yearly losses, he continued.

The fruit itself is a good source of Vitamin C, while the seeds are rich in protein, potassium, calcium, and iron as about one-fifth of a pound of the fruit has approximately 95 calories, he went on saying.

In his remarks, Kamalaranjan Das said Jackfruit contains high-powered antioxidants that protect the human body from harmful cancer.

Taking part in open discussion, many of the participants, including entrepreneurs, bankers and government officials put forward a set of recommendations on how to promote jackfruit processing and its marketing.