Farmers Saved Rare Jackfruit Trees, How Did They Turn Them Into a Business?

For more than two decades, two farmers in Karnataka protected unusual jackfruit trees on their farms. The trees later attracted scientists because of their distinct fruit quality and colour. With support from ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, the farmers turned these local selections into a source of commercial income.

The farmers, S.S. Paramesha and Shankariah from Tumakuru, had conserved their trees without knowing they could become commercially valuable varieties. ICAR-IIHR later studied and validated the selections. The work showed how farmers can help conserve crop diversity while also benefiting financially from locally adapted plant material.

How Did Two Local Trees Become Special Varieties?

ICAR-IIHR identified two farmer-selected jackfruit types, named Siddu and Shankara. Siddu produces attractive coppery-red flakes, with about 25 to 30 flakes in each fruit. Shankara also has coppery-red flesh and can contain around 50 to 60 flakes. Both selections showed desirable nutritional and quality characteristics.

The institute’s research found higher levels of compounds such as carotenoids, lycopene and phenolics in these selections compared with common local types. Scientists documented their characteristics and assessed their commercial potential. This scientific validation gave the farmers’ traditional conservation work a new value.

The story began with biodiversity, but it did not end there. ICAR-IIHR worked with the farmers on propagation techniques so they could produce planting material. The farmers were not simply treated as beneficiaries. They became custodians and partners in the commercialisation process.

This approach also created a way to share income from the varieties. Under the model, 75% of revenue from planting material goes to the farmers, while 25% goes to ICAR-IIHR. This arrangement connected conservation with a direct financial return for the people who had protected the trees.

The financial change was significant. ICAR’s latest success story says the farmer associated with Siddu earned ₹1.15 crore, while the Shankara custodian earned ₹8.25 lakh. Before the intervention, their annual income from jackfruit was only around ₹8,000 and ₹5,000 respectively.

The farmers also received benefit-sharing payouts through ICAR-IIHR. The reported amount was ₹49.18 lakh for Siddu and ₹19.54 lakh for Shankara. These figures show how a crop that once provided only limited seasonal income can become commercially valuable when farmers receive scientific and market support.

Paramesha had already demonstrated the potential of the model earlier. ICAR reported that he had produced more than 25,000 Siddu jackfruit saplings and earned ₹22 lakh in gross income over two years through the support provided by ICAR-IIHR.

The model also received formal recognition. Siddu and Shankara were registered under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority in 2023. Such registration recognises farmer-developed plant material and provides a formal framework for protecting farmers’ rights over their varieties.

Can Other Farmers Follow This Model?

The story is not simply about finding an unusual tree and selling its fruit. Farmers first need to identify promising plants and maintain them carefully. A variety becomes commercially useful only when its characteristics are tested, documented and shown to remain consistent after propagation.

Farmers can start by observing trees that perform differently from common local plants. Fruit size, colour, taste, yield, maturity period, disease response and other characteristics can help identify promising selections. Farmers should maintain records and seek help from agricultural universities, KVKs or horticulture departments.

Planting material also needs attention. Propagating a valuable selection through unsuitable methods can lead to inconsistent plants. Training in appropriate propagation techniques can help farmers maintain the characteristics that made the original tree valuable.

The Karnataka example also shows why farmers should not separate biodiversity from business. A locally adapted fruit variety may have qualities that attract consumers or processors. If scientists validate those characteristics and farmers receive a fair share of the commercial returns, conservation can become a livelihood activity.

What Happened When Another Farmer Adopted Them?

The model has already moved beyond the two original custodians. K.S. Ashok Kumar of Doddaballapur adopted Siddu and Shankara across 10 acres of dryland. Within four years, he reported yields of 10.5 tonnes from Siddu and 9.87 tonnes from Shankara.

According to ICAR, Kumar achieved net annual returns of about ₹7.90 lakh per acre. He also expanded beyond selling fresh jackfruit. Products such as halwa, payasam, burrito, kathi roll, biryani and Manchurian created additional ways to earn from the crop.

This value-addition approach matters because farmers do not always have to depend on fresh fruit sales alone. Processing can create products with different markets and selling periods. It can also provide a way to use fruit that may not receive the highest price in the fresh market.

For other fruit growers, the lesson is clear. A valuable local variety can become an income source when farmers combine conservation with scientific support, quality planting material and market planning. The Karnataka experience shows that protecting biodiversity does not have to mean giving up commercial opportunities.

What Can Farmers Learn From This Story?

Farmers should first look at the resources they already have. An old fruit tree with unusual characteristics may hold value, but farmers should not assume every unusual plant is commercially superior. Scientific evaluation is needed before large-scale propagation or investment.

Farmers can approach nearby KVKs, agricultural universities or horticulture research centres when they find promising local varieties. Researchers can help with identification, propagation, testing and documentation. This can prevent farmers from spending money on planting material without knowing whether it will perform well.

The Siddu and Shankara story also highlights the importance of fair benefit sharing. Farmers who conserve and develop useful plant material should have a role in its commercialisation. The income-sharing model used by ICAR-IIHR offers one example of how research institutions and farmers can work together.

For small farmers, fruit cultivation can take time before trees begin producing substantial income. But perennial crops can continue producing for years once established. When farmers combine suitable varieties with processing, nursery production or direct marketing, one crop can create several income streams.

The bigger lesson is that farm biodiversity can have economic value. Farmers often preserve useful plant traits long before scientists formally study them. When research institutions work with these farmers, local knowledge can lead to new planting material, stronger markets and better livelihood opportunities.