The farmer duo bag Rs 5 Lakh cash prize
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi awarded two farmers – S S Paramesha for cultivating the Novel Siddu Jackfruit Tree with coppery red in color and firm flakes and Shankariah from Tumkur District, Karnataka for cultivating the Shankara Jackfruit in their respective farms.
Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare virtually awarded both the farmers with a cheque of Rs 5 Lakh each, on the occasion of the ’Virtual Annual Conference of Vice-Chancellors of Agricultural Universities and Directors of ICAR Institutes’ organized at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi on December 5, 2020.
Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR) highlighted the importance of linking biodiversity to livelihood security of the farmers.
The Novel Siddu Jackfruit has an average weight of 2.44 kg / fruit; each fruit bearing 25 to 30 bulbs. The Shankara Jackfruit weighing around 2 to 5 Kg having 60 flakes with an average flake weight of 18 grams, the fruit’s flakes are sweet, aromatic, crispy and coppery red in color. The innovative model of linking biodiversity with livelihood security will help in doubling the farmers’ income.
Paramesha is presently growing the Siddu Jackfruit plants and has distributed more than 25,000 saplings to the farmers. He has earned a gross income of Rs 22 Lacs within two years due to the consistent guidance provided by ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru.
