Jackfruit is renowned for its distinctive flavour and nutritional qualities. It is becoming very popular worldwide. It is native to South Asia but is grown in tropical and subtropical regions today. With the right planning and care, cultivating jackfruit can be an incredibly rewarding venture. If you are planning to grow jackfruit on your farm, you can check the step-by-step guide to successful jackfruit farming, from soil preparation to post-harvest processes.
Steps to Grow Jackfruits on Your Farm:
In the below-mentioned section, one can read about the various steps of jackfruit farming. These steps are vital for the healthy growth of jackfruits. So read them carefully.
Land Preparation
The first and vital step for a jackfruit farm is the soil. Jackfruit trees throng to grow in deep, well-drained and rich soils with a PH level of 6.0 to 7.5. Before planting, it should be free from weeds, debris, rocks, and litter. It is also good, though not necessary, to add on organic matter like compost and manure or green manure.
Tillage to a depth of 30 cm ensures the looseness of the soil with root penetration. The land should be levelled and drained after ploughing since jackfruit trees do not like wet conditions.
If you are using a tractor, the Powertrac Euro 50 is an ideal model and is very apt for ploughing, levelling, and preparing for soil plantation. Additionally, the Powertrac Euro 50 price starts from Rs. 8,10000 lakh and goes up to Rs. 8,40000 lakh.
Planting Process
When the soil is prepared, plant the jackfruit saplings. Jackfruit trees can be propagated through seedlings that are bought from a good nursery. The saplings should be spaced about 10 to 12 meters apart for good growth and air circulation. Trees should be planted at the correct depth with complete root coverage for healthy root development.
If you stay in an area with intense rainfall, you can cultivate jackfruit trees on raised beds or mounds to avoid waterlogging. Young trees require consistent watering for the establishment of their roots at the initial stages of growth, but when they grow, they tolerate drought conditions and need to be watered less often.
Caring Stage
Once the trees are planted, proper care is essential if they are supposed to grow in a healthy manner and ripen well. Irrigating is essential during the dry-spell periods, particularly during the first few years. Mulch around the bases of trees since it conserves moisture, suppresses weeds and maintains a soil temperature.
The next most significant component in the proper maintenance of the trees is fertilization. Organically, soil should be consistently fertilised through compost, well-rotted manure, and, if not organic, using chemical fertilizer in small dosages according to the requirement of nutrients by a tree. Thirdly, farmers should closely monitor tree pests and diseases, and action should be taken immediately as soon as signs appear to protect the health of the tree.
Harvesting Time
Typically, jackfruit trees start bearing fruit within 3 to 4 years. Jackfruits are large and weigh between 10 and 55 kilograms. The ripening process is noticeable, given the yellowing of the jackfruit’s skin, which is also accompanied by the sweet fragrance it emits.
Handling of the fruit at harvest should be delicate enough not to bruise them. Cutting fruit can be done with either a sharp knife or harvesting pole; jackfruits should be picked patiently, taking careful time so as to harvest when fully ripe.
Post-Harvest Transportation
After harvesting, the fruits need to be transported to places of processing or sale. Because of the fruit size and weight, transporting jackfruit can be very trying. For efficient post-harvest transport, a reliable tractor, such as the Solis YM 342A 4WD, is necessary. The 4WD tractor ensures powerful performance for easy movement, even on challenging or rugged grounds. The tractor ensures the fruits harvested are moved speedily and safely to avoid damage during transit.
Storage
After harvesting and transportation of the jackfruit, the processing and storage part comes. While in some areas, people prefer selling fresh jackfruits, in other areas, they undergo further processing to form different products like dried jackfruit, jackfruit chips, or canned jackfruit. The fruits are cut into smaller parts with the removal of seeds and the skin for consumption or more processing.
Storages are required to preserve and avoid the spoilage of the fruit. The storage areas for jackfruits should be cool and dry. Care has to be taken at the processing and storage stages when dealing with the jackfruit.
The Final Words
Jackfruit farming provides a lot of opportunities to those who take time and effort to pursue the process. From preparing the soil to post-harvest activities, all the methods result in successful farming. From all of these, the farmer can turn their farming activities to become efficient. There never was a better time than now to start cultivating this versatile and nutritious fruit since the world continues to see increasing demand for the fruit.
