Stronger divided! Jackfruit prices hit Rs 80 a kilogram as traders shift to bulbs in Karnataka

Bengaluru: Once dismissed as a "poor man's fruit," jackfruit is steadily finding its way into urban markets and has witnessed a sharp increase in prices across Karnataka this summer. Rising awareness about the fruit and its nutrient qualities, popularity of several value-added products, and the availability of multiple premium varieties have paved the way for the steady increase in prices.The demand for the jackfruit is so much that traders have shifted from selling whole fruits to pricing them by the kilogram in Bengaluru markets. A single fruit that sold for Rs 100-200 a couple of years ago is now being sold for Rs 40-80 per kg, depending on the colour and quality of bulbs, thus pushing the price of an average 4-5kg jackfruit to Rs 400-500. Large fruits weighing 10-12kg, particularly of popular varieties, are sold at Rs 600-700, according to traders.Prof K Narayana Gowda, former vice-chancellor of the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), who is known to have helped set up the Tubugere Jackfruit Growers Association near Doddaballapur in Bengaluru Rural district, attributed the surge in prices to steady awareness among the public built over the past decade."All these years, especially in urban markets, jackfruit was a big turn-off due to the complex process of cutting and extraction of bulbs. However, ever since the horticulture department popularised the sale of ready-to-eat bulbs through their jackfruit mela, people are increasingly buying bulbs. The fact that this is a diabetic-friendly fruit with low glycaemic index (30-60) has added to the demand," Gowda explained.Dr G Karunakaran, senior scientist at the Indian Institute of Horticulture Research (IIHR) at Hesaraghatta, who documented multiple varieties of jackfruit in southern Karnataka, said, "It has moved from being an underutilised backyard fruit to a commercially viable crop."Value addition has also contributed to the rise in the prices. "In the southern parts of Karnataka, people consume the fruit. But, in coastal areas, the fruit is used with multiple value addition as it is processed into chips, flour, sweets, ice creams, pappad and in various cuisines. This has helped the fruit expand its demand and market reach beyond fresh consumption," explained a popular jackfruit farmer from Tumakuru.Experts attributed this collective transformation of the jackfruit to the popularity of Siddu jackfruit — identified and promoted by scientists at IIHR. "The Siddu jack, hailed for its coppery-red flakes, high nutritional value, and superior taste, fuelled the demand and gained strong commercial traction among farmers and buyers alike. Subsequently, several varieties such as Lalbagh Madhura, Shankara, Rudrakshi, Swarna, Toobugere, and all-season jackfruit varieties have gained a foothold. Farmers cultivating premium jackfruit types are now earning significantly higher returns, with some individual trees generating substantial income," explained a senior official from the horticulture department.In Karnataka, jackfruit is cultivated on 726 hectares, with a production of 29,576 tonnes annually, according to the horticulture department. "As the jackfruit is a highly perishable fruit, the govt has already established 236 cold storage units with a collective capacity of 8.4 tonnes. Currently, work on seven cold storage units is in progress with a capacity of 24,000 tonnes. Once these are completed, there will be enough storage facilities to store jackfruit," explained a senior official, who also clarified that an increase in demand and the dwindling tree cover have added to the rising prices.