BHUBANESWAR: The state agriculture department has decided to promote jackfruit cultivation, its processing and value addition on a mission mode following a discussion at a recent high-level meeting attended by senior officials.
"It was decided that the local elite landraces of jackfruit having desired quality for raw consumption as well as production of the value-added product will be identified by the horticulture directorate to meet the market requirement," said an official source.
The meeting chaired by development commissioner P K Jena and agriculture production commissioner R K Sharma decided to encourage grafted jackfruit plantation to reduce the gestation period once quality grafts are produced in horticulture farm.
The state government will also constitute an expert advisory committee for creating resource and knowledge base for the promotion of jackfruit cultivation and marketing of jackfruit products. Experts from national level institutes and Kerala Jackfruit Mission are likely to be included in the committee.
As the state government has no definite data, the Agricultural Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha Limited (APICOL) has been asked to bring out a status report on jackfruit cultivation, its marketing, processing, value chain and potential in Odisha. "The APICOL will also organize entrepreneurship development meet for jackfruit processing to promote entrepreneurship. OUAT will also be involved in the process," said an official, who was part of the meeting.
The agriculture department has been asked to coordinate with the MSME department for identification and promotion of entrepreneurs for investment in jackfruit processing industries in the state.
