Kerala jackfruit flows north; local prices climb steeply

Kollam: Jackfruit prices have risen sharply in Kerala due to increased demand for idichakka (tender jackfruit) in North India and Nepal. Jackfruit promoter Shaji Chakkamukku said that between 100 and 200 tonnes of tender jackfruit are being shipped daily from Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts. In south Kerala, ripe jackfruit is now priced between ₹35 and ₹45 per kilogram — the rate paid by units producing value-added products such as jackfruit chips. Last year, the price was only ₹15–₹20 per kilogram.

As a 10-kg jackfruit now costs more than ₹400, chip-making units are facing difficulties. A women-led enterprise in Ezhukone, Kollam, which exports jackfruit chips to the United States and Europe, has temporarily stopped production due to high raw material costs. Entrepreneur Shubha, a native of Puliyara, said prices are expected to fall once production increases.

Jackfruit ripens mainly between December and February in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, and Pathanamthitta districts. During this period, jackfruit in northern districts is still in the tender stage. This year, overall production has been lower than usual. The growing market for value-added products has also pushed up prices. Such products have strengthened jackfruit’s position in the market.

With the emergence of pulp-processing units, even soft-fleshed jackfruit varieties are now in high demand. Their pulp is widely used in making ice cream, jam, halwa, and squash. Earlier, many companies depended on other states for jackfruit pulp, but now they are sourcing it from local units in Kerala. Increased exports and the rising popularity of vegan foods have also contributed to higher prices.

According to “Plavu Jayan,” who promotes jackfruit cultivation through ‘jackfruit villages’ in public and fallow lands, the number of jackfruit trees has declined significantly. The use of bud-grafted saplings has also resulted in smaller-sized fruits.