Mouth-watering dishes at jackfruit mela

 Visitors savoured a variety of mouth-watering dishes made of jackfruit at the ‘Halasina Habba’ (jackfruit mela) held at Mahalakshmipuram on Sunday.

Foodies at the mela formed a beeline and eagerly waited to sample food items such as dosa, ice cream, biryani, juice, chips, among others, all of which were made from jackfruit. 

Dr K Ramakrishnappa, Additional Director of Horticulture Department, who inaugurated the event, stressed on the health benefits of jackfruit and organic products made of it.

 Speaking on jackfruit tress, Ramakrishnappa said, “Jackfruit trees were said to have originated in Western Ghats and they do not depend on fertilisers as much, when compared to other fruit trees. Earlier, there were different varieties of jackfruit being cultivated, but now the number has come down.” 

However, he added that in the last few years, the fruit has been grown by a large number of farmers in the State. “Farmers in Magadi, Kolar and surrounding areas of Bangalore are growing many varieties of the fruit,” said Ramakrishnappa.

To spread awareness on the utility and nutritional value of the fruit, the event was organised by a group of social entrepreneurs from Green Basket, an organic shop in association with Prakruthi, a non-governmental organisation.