The Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Zonal Agricultural and Horticultural Research Station, Brahmavar, in collaboration with other organisations will organise a State-level jackfruit festival at Rajangana here on July 1 and 2.
Addressing presspersons here on Tuesday, M. Hanumanthappa, Joint Research Director, Zonal Agricultural and Horticultural Research Station (ZAHRS), said that the ZAHRS had been holding jackfruit festival for the last five years.
It was being held at Rajangana here this year to attract a lot of people to the festival. Nearly 10 varieties of jackfruit would be on display at the fest. Gumless jackfruit would be one of the highlights. “Chandra Halasu,” a variety of jackfruit from Doddaballapur, which was as sweet as honey would be on display.
Jackfruit had a lot of potential if there was value addition to it. One of the highlights this time would be coffee prepared out of jackfruit seeds. Nearly 300 snack items could be prepared out of jackfruit, these snacks would be on display and sale at the fest.
Already 25 stalls had been booked for the festival and another five more were expected. Vasanth Nayak, an entrepreneur, who prepares jackfruit “happalas” and “sandiges” at Perdoor village and exports them to foreign countries, would be putting up his stall at the fest.
Besides these, there would be seminars on both the days. The first seminar would be on “Future and different techniques on cultivation of jackfruit” at 11.30 a.m. on Friday. Sri Padre, Editor of “Adike Patrike” would speak on “Specialties in jackfruit crop and opportunities for farmers.” Shivanna of Parivartana Samsthe, Sakharaya Pattana, Kadur, Chikkamagaluru district, would deliver a lecture on “Value addition of jackfruit.”
There would be a video film on jackfruit from 2.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. On July 2, there would be a seminar on “Value addition and marketing of snacks related to jackfruit and formation of associations” at 10 a.m.
Chandan K., Assistant Professor, Horticulture College, Sirsi, would deliver a lecture on “Preparation of various jackfruit snacks.” This would be followed by a lecture on “Formation of jackfruit association and marketing of jackfruit” by Ravikumar, President of Halasu Belegarara Sangha, Doddabalapur.
Vishwesha Tirtha Swami of Paryaya Pejawar Mutt would inaugurate the fest, while Pramod Madhwaraj, Minister of State for Fisheries, Youth Empowerment and Sports, would preside over it, Dr. Hanumanthappa said.
B. Dhananjaya, Programme Coordinator, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, K.V. Sudhir, senior field officer, Purushotham P.K., District Director, Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project, were present.
