Consumption of Jackfruit may Cure AIDS – Raghupathi Bhat during Halasu Mela

Consumption of Jackfruit may Cure AIDS – Raghupathi Bhat during Halasu Mela

Udupi: “There are rumours that consuming jackfruit can cure AIDS. It may be a rumour but because of such rumours, the Jackfruit has now become popular”, said the MLA of Udupi Raghupati Bhat during the inauguration of the Jackfruit Mela at Doddangudde near Perampalli organized by the District Horticultural Department on Saturday, June 23.

Addressing the gathering, Bhat said, “It is very easy to cultivate Jackfruit without much effort in the rural areas. Jackfruit cultivation is growing day by day due it’s market demand and health benefits. Once the jackfruit was a neglected crop but today it has become more profitable. According to Ayurveda doctors, jackfruit is good for diabetes and other illnesses. The government should encourage farmers to grow jackfruit.”

Udupi Zilla Panchayat president Dinakar Babu in his message said that the Jackfruit can be introduced for a lower cost in the market. “The fruit is not only edible, but the wood is used to make furniture. Women should be trained in the preparation of various types of jackfruit dishes, which will increase the demand for Jackfruits,” he said.

MLC Kota Srinivas Poojary, Deputy commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis, CMC president Meenakshi Madhava, TP president Nalini Pradeep, ZP member Babu Shetty, Horticultural department DD Bhuavneshwari and others were present.

The Jackfruit Mela attracted many fruit lovers. The two-day Mela features 20-25 stalls where jackfruit cultivators, self-help groups and other associations display fruits and their products. Papads, boiled jackfruit seeds, Jam, squashes, chips, juice, roasted seeds and sweet rotis made from jackfruit were on sale. Visitors were particularly curious to taste the different varieties of the jackfruit. The Mela attracted sellers from across the district.