SHILLONG: Realizing the tremendous benefits of jackfruit, the State Government is working to promote the fruit to generate employment opportunities, under the ambitious Integrated Basin Development and Livelihood Promotion (IBDLP).
Registrar of Cooperative Societies, BDR Tiwari, admitted that jackfruit is available in abundance in Meghalaya but there is no proper marketing.
He said that the roots of jackfruit tree controls ground water and reduce soil erosion besides the wood of the tree is used for making musical instruments.
According to Tiwari, there are around 4-5 lakh jackfruit trees in Meghalaya.
Tiwari said that various types of food including vegetable and pickles can be made out from jackfruit which is considered as the fourth largest fruit and 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.
The department wants to rope in cooperative societies and provide them with a platform for marketing of the jackfruits, he said, adding that the department would tie up with private suppliers for marketing of jackfruit produces.
