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There is a reason why jackfruit is Bangladesh’s national fruit. It grows in abundance across the country, particularly in the highland areas. Madhupur and Bhawal are among the top areas where jackfruit production is high. Once considered a backyard fruit, jackfruit now has the potential to become an export item - offering new economic opportunities and providing a sustainable food source for the population. In this article, we will explore how jackfruit can become a game-changer.
Why jackfruit?
According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, about 1.5 million metric tons of jackfruit are produced in Bangladesh every year. Researchers observed that in the last few years, about 45% of this total production, i.e., about 5 lakh tons of jackfruit were wasted.
During jackfruit season, fruits like mango and litchi are available in the market, and it is difficult to process jackfruit for eating as compared to these fruits. Most people in Bangladesh think that jackfruit can only be eaten when it is ripe. There is a lack of interest in consuming unripe jackfruit. So a large part of the jackfruit produced in Bangladesh is wasted every year.
Keeping these issues in mind, researchers are trying to make food products with jackfruit that are easy to preserve for several months. Thus, they are aiming to reduce wastage and open up new economic prospects for the country.
Products made using jackfruit
In recent times, various types of delicious foods are being prepared from jackfruit in Bangladesh, which includes jackfruit jam, pickles, chutney, chips, cutlets, ice cream, curd, ready-to-cook jackfruit, fresh cut (vegetable meat), jackfruit powder, and various other packaged products. Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute has developed these products for the first time in Bangladesh. Customers can find these products in several supermarkets and retail markets across the country.
Between 2019 and 2022, the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute partnered with NewVision Solutions Limited to carry out a three-year research program, titled “Jackfruit Postharvest Loss Reduction and Marketing Strategy”. The objective of this program was to prevent the wastage of jackfruit and explore its various uses.
As part of the project, the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute provided training to around 700-800 individuals on the production and marketing of jackfruit. These individuals are now engaged in producing a variety of jackfruit products. Additionally, the institute is also offering free training to anyone who is interested in learning more about producing jackfruit products.
Initially, the researchers focused their efforts on studying four products, namely jackfruit chips, pickles, fresh cuts, and dried products, as part of the project. However, they have now come to realize that jackfruit can be utilized as a resource for over 30 different products.
According to researchers, the market demand for fresh-cut or unripe jackfruit is higher than that for other jackfruit products. This benefits farmers, as a single jackfruit that would usually sell for Tk 60-70 can be sold for Tk 200-250 as fresh-cut jackfruit.
Currently, a range of food items, such as unripe jackfruit vegetable rolls, cutlets, and shingara, are being prepared in the market. Meanwhile, ripe jackfruit juice is being used to make ice cream, cakes, and fruit roll-ups. In addition to that, these products made using jackfruit are already creating employment in the country. On the other hand, there is a demand for these products in the international market as well.
Export value of jackfruit
A very small amount of jackfruit grown in the country is exported abroad, and most of its buyers are expatriate Bangladeshis. According to Department of Agricultural Extension data, jackfruit exports have increased slightly compared to earlier, and there is ample scope for further growth.
In the financial year 2019-20, the export of jackfruit was about 1,000 tons. Habiganj’s large and good quality jackfruits are being exported to various countries, including Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, UAE, countries in the European Union, the UK, and the US.
Now processed jackfruit is also on the export list. In 2019, Bangladesh began exporting processed jackfruit products to European Union countries, a move that experts predict will diversify the country’s range of exports.
Starting in January 2019, several companies under the Bangladesh Agro-based Product Producers and Merchants Association (BAPPMA) provided osmotically dehydrated food made from jackfruit, as well as jackfruit seed powder, to a number of food chains in the EU.
As research initiatives are being taken on making new processed jackfruit food products, the country will surely open up a new export horizon. The a2i project under the Prime Minister’s Office has taken the initiative to involve the private sector in the production of jackfruit chips, a meat substitute that will add significant value to the national fruit.
Why is global demand for jackfruit increasing?
Jackfruit can boost the human body’s immune system. It contains powerful antioxidants that protect the body from harmful free radicals.
Jackfruit can help prevent heart disease and stroke. Phytonutrients present in jackfruit are able to prevent ulcers, high blood pressure, skin problems, and aging. It also contains iron, which can help with anemia and constipation as it is fibrous.
Final words
Jackfruit can become a game-changer for Bangladesh’s economy, offering new opportunities, providing a sustainable food source, and contributing to climate resilience. With its high nutritional value, versatility in taste, and export opportunity, jackfruit has the potential to become a significant player in the global food industry.
