‘Jackfruit’ solution to unemployment

SHILLONG: Meghalaya is confronting with the problem of unemployment and now the State Government is mulling to plant 2-3 million jackfruit trees in the State which would in turn help the people to become entrepreneurs and earn a decent livelihood.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, Registrar of Cooperative Societies, BDR Tiwari said that the Government plans to plant the whopping number of jackfruit tress in the next five years.
BDR Tiwari informed that jackfruits can be used in multiple ways and Garo Hills region of the State has tremendous potential to produce huge number of jackfruits.
Admitting that the market of the fruit has not been explored as yet in Meghalaya, Tiwari said that various types of food including vegetable and pickles can be made out from the jackfruit which is considered as the fourth largest fruit.
One of the unique features of the fruit is the fact that it has medicinal values and it is a zero maintenance crop and several wooden by-products can be made out of the fruit.
Reacting to a query, he said that the roots of the fruit protects soil from erosion and in no way it damages the biodiversity besides it also helps in ground water restoration.
“Jackfruit is the most valuable asset for Meghalaya which needs proper marketing,” he said even as he added that the department wants to rope in cooperative societies and provide them with a platform for marketing of the jackfruits even as he said that the department would tie up with private suppliers for marketing of the products.
It is learnt that at the moment there are not less than 4-5 lakh jackfruit trees in Meghalaya mostly in Garo Hills and bordering areas of Assam but jackfruit has not been properly marketed in Meghalaya.