“Cold-chain shortfalls are limiting India's potential for fresh jackfruit exports"

India's jackfruit exports are being backed by strong demand for processed products like chips, freeze-dried powders, frozen patties, and plant-based meats, says Mithilesh Desai, Director at Jackfruitking Agro Producer Company, based in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra. "Our exports have expanded from Mauritius to Gulf markets and Europe, driven by the fruit's versatility and growing global interest."

However, jackfruit exports face challenges due to the fruit's limited shelf-life, restricting exports primarily to processed forms. According to Desai, fresh jackfruit is exported only to nearby Gulf countries owing to inadequate logistics and cold-chain infrastructure. "Two years ago, Jackfruitking Agro initiated India's first exports of jackfruit plantations to Mauritius, while last year we exported processed products to Gulf countries. We also trialed fresh jackfruit exports to Dubai, which revealed a strong need for optimal post-harvest handling and cold-chain logistics to maintain quality and shelf-life," Desai explains.

An early monsoon arrival in May impacted Maharashtra's harvest, but overall availability remained strong, as most jackfruit was already processed or sold, Desai mentions. "The season, running from January to June, saw early rainfall this year, reducing the final harvest by 20–25%, though prices remained stable. Improved yields and processing capacity boosted exports, particularly for value-added products." Jackfruitking Agro, representing 1,100 farmers in Maharashtra's Konkan belt, has scaled up processing to meet demand.

"Over the past three years, our processed jackfruit sales surged by 70–75%, while fresh jackfruit sales grew by 40%, largely in the domestic market. "Processed products like chips and powders dominate exports, accounting for 60% of our output, with 20% fresh jackfruit sales and 20% wastage," Desai highlights, adding, "Two main jackfruit varieties drive the market: Soft flesh, used for pulp, and hard flesh, preferred globally for value-added products like nuggets, patties, and burgers. Hard flesh jackfruit has high demand for its versatility in plant-based meat recipes, such as kebabs and biryanis."

Desai sees significant opportunities for India's jackfruit sector in the coming years, especially as efforts to upgrade cold chain and logistics systems progress. As he sums up, "India's roughly USD 4.5 billion jackfruit economy loses considerable value due to supply-chain challenges. Improved systems could secure 20–30% of this value through fresh exports, besides the growing demand for processed jackfruit products. We are working towards exporting jackfruit to the USA, France, Germany, the UK, and Gulf markets, using the India-UK free trade agreement and enhanced cold chain systems."

For more information:
Mithilesh Desai
Jackfruitking Agro Producer Company
Tel: +91 82 75 455 176
Email: [email protected]