Rare fruits, jackfruit innovations draw crowds

From jackfruit kebabs, pastries and burgers to mushroom sweets and pickles, this year’s National Fruit Fair showcased how Bangladesh’s local fruits can be transformed into value-added food products.

The three-day fair, which began on Thursday at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh premises in the capital’s Farmgate area, attracted large crowds eager to explore rare indigenous fruits and a wide range of fruit-based processed foods.

Among the highlights were green and white pastry cakes decorated with jackfruit bulbs, along with jackfruit net kebabs, pakoras, chips, bread, stick kebabs, halwa, sashlik and traditional pitha.

The Department of Agricultural Marketing displayed nearly 20 processed jackfruit products, including pitha, pudding, biscuits, fritters, cupcakes, patishapta, pickles,  cutlets and barfi made from jackfruit seeds.

Al Amin Sarker of the department said entrepreneurs have increasingly developed jackfruit- and mango-based products under programmes aimed at maximising utilisation of the national fruit.

Entrepreneur Asma Sharker of Prosperity Shop displayed jackfruit cheese balls, cutlets, kebabs, samosas, singaras, pakoras and various pickles. She said she has developed 18 jackfruit-based products since 2017 and now trains entrepreneurs across the country.

“Last year, I exported 20 tonnes of fresh-cut green jackfruit to Thailand. Discussions are now underway to export products to Malaysia and China,” she said, adding that all her products are based on technologies developed by BARI.

Visitors were also drawn to stalls displaying uncommon indigenous fruits rarely found in urban markets.

Agriculture experts at the fair said Bangladesh produces a wide range of seasonal fruits but still faces challenges in preservation, storage and value addition. Expanding processing industries could increase farmers’ incomes and create jobs, they said.

Tahmina Ferdous, who visited the fair with her kindergarten-going daughter Tashfia Angel, said the event provided an opportunity to introduce children to unfamiliar local fruits. “There were many fruits she had never seen before, including different varieties of dates and several uncommon local fruits,” she said.

The fair also highlighted efforts to convert local agricultural products into export-oriented processed foods, creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs and reducing dependence on imported processed foods.

A visit to the fair showed that mangoes had an even stronger presence than jackfruit. Popular local varieties such as Langra, Amrapali, Nag Fazli, BARI-4, Haribhanga and Surjapuri were displayed alongside foreign and improved varieties including Thai Katimon, Pokri, Honey View, Banana Mango, Miyazaki, Apple Mango and King of Chokapat.

Large mango displays attracted visitors throughout the venue, while the neighbouring Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) stall showcased imported dates and lesser-known local fruits.

Several stalls also sold juices made from mango, blackberry, pineapple, lychee and other fruits, priced between Tk60 and Tk150. Processed foods such as mushroom cakes, naru and traditional pitha were also popular among visitors.

A total of 67 stalls participated in the fair, with government and private organisations, including the Department of Agricultural Marketing, BADC and the Department of Agricultural Extension, showcasing their products and innovations.