FRESH FRUITS

1.      Jackfruit Originally native to the Indian sub-continent, the jackfruit is now widely cultivated throughout the tropical low lands of both hemispheres. The tree bears one of the largest edible fruits known. The huge syncarps are always in demand and often bring high prices in the countries where the crop is planted. This is one of the many fruits which the small farmer or villager of tropical Asia, America or Africa can grow with little or no care thereby affording him a more varied diet as well as a source of income. Jackfruit is considered as the national fruit of Bangladesh. It is an important fruit crop in India, Bangladesh, Burma, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and many other tropical countries.

Acreage and production in Bangladesh The jackfruit ranks third in area under cultivation and second in production among the fruits of Bangladesh. There are 25,110 ha of land under jackfruit having an annual production of 469,500 tons (BBS, 2000-2007). It accounts about 22% of total fruit production in the country.