ICAR felicitates Farmers trained at ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru for producing Novel Jackfruit varieties in their fields

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi awarded the farmers - Shri S.S. Paramesha for cultivating the Novel Siddujack Fruit Tree with coppery red in color and firm flakes and Shri Shankariah from Tumkur District, Karnataka for cultivating the Shankara Jackfruit in their respective farm fields.

Shri Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare virtually awarded both the farmers with the cheque of Rs. 5 Lakhs each on the occasion of the “Virtual Annual Conference of Vice-Chancellors of Agricultural Universities and Directors of ICAR Institutes” organized at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi today.

Shri Kailash Choudhary, Union Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare along with other senior officials of ICAR was also present during the occasion.

Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR) highlighted the importance of linking biodiversity to livelihood security of the farmers.

The Novel Siddujack fruit having an average weight of 2.44 kg / fruit; each fruit has 25 to 30 bulbs. The Shankara Jackfruit weighing around 2 to 5 Kg having 60 flakes with an average flake weight of 18 g, the fruit’s flakes are sweet, aromatic, crispy and coppery red in color. The innovative model of linking biodiversity with livelihood security will help in doubling the farmers’ income.

Shri Paramesha is currently producing the Siddujack Fruit plants and has distributed more than 25,000 saplings to the farmers. He has earned a gross income of Rs. 22 Lacs within two years due to the handholding by ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru.

(Source: ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru)