THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ever tasted jackfruit biriyani? Or jackfruit wine? These and much more would be spread out at the first-ever National Jackfruit Fest to be held in the city from Saturday. At least 68 varieties of jackfruit dishes, right from soups to desserts, await gourmets at the fest, which will be held at Kanakakkunnu. The three-day-long jackfruit fest is a concerted effort by a group of organisations and local bodies to introduce jackfruit as a means to achieve local food security. Announcing the fest at a press meet here, Mayor K Chandrika said that jackfruit is largely available in our homes, but is hugely neglected. But it can give us some of the tasty dishes, she said. That it grows without the use of fertilizers or manure is its strong point, she said. To do its bit, the City Corporation has decided to be a part of the national fest and promote the planting of jackfruit throughout the district with the cooperation of the District Panchayat. ‘’Around one lakh jackfruit saplings would be planted in the city as part of the fest and also to mark the World Environment Day, which falls on June 5,’’ said G Happykumar, Deputy Mayor. On the roadsides, inside open compounds and backyards of houses, the saplings would be planted. There are many varieties of jackfruit; accordingly, the saplings are also of different types. There are species which do not grow after a certain height, which could be more widely used so that in future the branches do not pose a hurdle to motorists or pedestrians, organisers said at a press meet. At the fest, more varieties from different parts of India and outside like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka would be displayed. There will be a food court, where the jackfruit dishes would be served. Those who would love to watch the dishes in the making could do so at the live demo, which would be held from 5 pm to 8 pm on all three days. Hawaii Fruit Growers’ Association president Kenlev and James P Mathew, a farmer based in Palakkad, would lead the demonstrations. To showcase the different varieties of the fruit, a photo exhibition has also been planned. A seminar on ‘Jackfruit for local food security’ would be held on Saturday which would be inaugurated by Additional Chief Secretary K Jayakumar. There will be cookery competitions and quiz competitions which will be held on June 6 from 10 am. The food fest would be inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Agriculture K V Thomas. The valedictory function would be attended by Minister for Panchayats M K Muneer. The fest has the support of State Horticulture Mission, NABARD, National Horticulture Board, Kerala State Biodiversity Board, Kerala Agricultural University, Santhigram, Uravu, CISSA, Sahayi, Mitraniketan, Adike Patrike, Information and Public Relations Department and FRAT.
Comments
0 comment