RAJSHAHI, Nov 26, 2021 (BSS) - Agriculture experts and researchers have
unequivocally called for promoting jackfruit processing for its value
addition and protection from being wasted after the best uses of modern
technologies.

   There are bright prospects of adding value of the seasonal fruit so all
the government and non-government entities concerned should come forward and
work together to materialize the existing prospects.   

   They came up with the importance while addressing a workshop titled "Value
Addition of Jackfruit through Postharvest Technologies and its Marketing
Strategy -Ways to Move Forward" at Fruit Research Station (FRS) here today.

   Postharvest Technology Division (PHTD) of Bangladesh Agricultural Research
Institute (BARI) and NewVision Solutions Limited hosted the workshop funded
by Postharvest Management and Marketing of Jackfruits project of Krishi
Gobeshona Foundation (KGF).   

   PHTD Senior Scientific Officer Dr Golam Ferdous Chowdhury and NewVision
Project Manager Kaiser Alam presented two keynote papers on 'Postharvest Loss
Reduction Technologies of Jackfruit' and 'Value Chain Development and
Marketing Strategy of Jackfruit' respectively.   

   Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture Kamalaranjan Das
addressed the meeting as chief guest, while PHTD Chief Scientific Officer
Hafizul Haque Khan was in the chair.   

   FRS Principal Scientific Officer Dr Alim Uddin welcomed the participants.   

   Dr Ferdous Chowdhury told the audience that a jackfruit can weigh between
5 and 30 kilograms and contain hundreds of seeds that are rich in protein,
potassium, calcium, and iron -- all of which are important for growth.

   "It's a miracle. It can provide so many nutrients and calories -
everything," he added.

   Anyone might be surprised to know that jackfruit - the national fruit of
Bangladesh - is a fruit in high demand all over the world, he also said.

   Reportedly, up to 50 percent of jackfruits grown in Bangladesh valued at
around Taka 500 crore have been wasted because the fruit is rotten if it's
not eaten or preserved within a few weeks, Dr Ferdous said.

   So, proper collection, management, processing technology and conservation
is very important for substantial and sustainable reduction of the yearly
losses, he continued.

   The fruit itself is a good source of Vitamin C, while the seeds are rich
in protein, potassium, calcium, and iron as about one-fifth of a pound of the
fruit has approximately 95 calories, he went on saying.

   In his remarks, Kamalaranjan Das said Jackfruit contains high-powered
antioxidants that protect the human body from harmful cancer.

   Taking part in open discussion, many of the participants, including
entrepreneurs, bankers and government officials put forward a set of
recommendations on how to promote jackfruit processing and its marketing.