June 28, 2021 : Siddu jackfruit which contains high nutrients is suitable for homesteads and commercial farming, said Chief Minister B.S.Yediyurappa.
The elite Siddu jackfruit sapling and fruits were presented to Chief Minister B.S.Yediyurappa, Government of Karnataka by Dr. B.N.S. Murthy, Director, ICAR-IIHR, Hessaraghatta. Siddu jackfruit with coppery red coloured flakes is a superior jackfruit variety identified from Mr. S.S.Paramesha’s farm located in Chelur village of Tumakuru District by ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru under farmers participatory research development programme. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister has appreciated ICAR-IIHR for making efforts to identify such farmer’s varieties and for jackfruit promotion in Karnataka. He also expressed his interest in growing Siddu jackfruit in his Shikaripura farm.
Director, ICAR-IIHR elaborated the Siddu jack success story to Honourable Chief Minister. He has informed that Mr. S.S.Paramesh, who is currently producing Siddu Jackfruit saplings in handholding with ICAR-IIHR, has earned a gross income of Rs.22 lakhs within two years and he has proved that farmers can double their income as well as conserve the biodiversity. During last two years, about one lakh saplings were distributed to 31,000 farmers across Karnataka and neighbouring states, and this could be possible due to the collaboration with ICAR-IIHR.
Honourable B.S.Basavaraju, Member of Parliament, Tumakuru constituency present during the occasion expressed his happiness that the Siddu jack fruit was identified from his constituency, and is getting popular among the farmers. He also appreciated the effort made by ICAR-IIHR for the promotion of Siddu jack fruit to the to the higher level. Dr. B. N. S. Murthy, Director, ICAR-IIHR, Hesaraghatta, Dr. G. Karunakaran, Principal Scientist and Head, IIHR- Experimental Farm, Hirehalli, Tumakuru and Mr. Paramesh, S. S., Custodian Farmer of Siddu Jackfruit, were also present during the occasion.
