An Indian Jumbo jackfruit that could have made world news unfortunately missed it recently.
The jackfruit in question, grown at Panruti, the jackfruit paradise of India in Cuddalore district, however made a record. Do you know how much price it brought for the grower? A neat 1000 Rs!
Grown in farmer Karunakaran’s jackfruit orchard of Melmambattu, it was weighed before selling at Panruti mandi. It was unbelievable 81 kilos!
Guinness world record for biggest jackfruit stands in the name of a Hawaiian farmer. However this weighed only 34.4 Kg. “Your jackfruit is almost the double weight of our record winning one,” hearing the news of this Panruti jackfruit, Ken Love, who reported the Hawaiian Jack for Guinness World Records, reacted. Adds he half jocularly, “If it was here, we could have sold it for 1000 dollars.”
But P. Haridoss, Assistant Director Agriculture, Panruti, himself a farmer is not as excited as Ken. “Such big jackfruit is not unusual in Panruti. In Melmambattu and Maligaipattu villages every year many huge jackfruits are grown. But none keeps it separate, weighs and gives special attention to that”, he says.
Karunakaran’s orchard has three trees that give jumbo fruits. What is the reason behind such huge jackfruits? “There are not one, but many reasons, I think”, analyses Haridoss, “first and foremost is thinning. Then the manuring plus irrigation. The genotype and soil condition are also seem to play a role.”
Take it from me; it is only a matter of time before Panruti hits world headlines through Guinness Book of World Records, thanks to its often growing jumbo jackfruits.
Shree Padre with inputs from P. Haridoss
Photo: P. Haridoss, vijayaharidoss@gmail.com
