Improvement of jackfruit’s yield and quality are being looked into in a project that aims to develop and implement integrated disease management strategies along with crop management options in jackfruit production.
The project is funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and is being implemented by the Visayas State University (VSU); Bureau of Plant Industry-Davao National Crop Research, Development and Production Support Center (BPI-DNCRDPSC); and Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office No. 8 (DA-RFO 8).
The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) co-monitors the project together with ACIAR.
Titled, “Tropical tree fruit research and development in the Philippines and Northern Australia to increase productivity, resilience, and profitability,” the project was recently evaluated at the Visayas State University (VSU).
One of the project’s components aims to improve the existing vacuum-fried jackfruit chips in Leyte. This component is an offshoot of the DOST-PCAARRD completed project on “Processing of Jackfruit into High Value Food Products,” which was also implemented by VSU.
The project also explores the possibility of jackfruit fresh-cut processing in the Philippines and Australia.
Dr. Othello B. Capuno, Vice President for Research and Extension of VSU, shared some potential opportunities for the jackfruit industry in the Philippines.
“Del Monte will export jackfruit from Leyte. It means that there will be an increase in production and price of our jackfruit, and maybe the Philippines will be in the map for export market,” Capuno said.
Capuno expressed hopes that support from and cooperation among the concerned agencies and organizations will help sustain the improvement of jackfruit in the region and in the country.
DOST-PCAARRD was represented by Crops Research Division Director Dr. Jocelyn E. Eusebio, Jackfruit Commodity Specialist Ma. Nova R. Nguyen, together with technical evaluator and expert Dr. Candida B. Adalla during the Review. They joined 24 other participants from VSU, ACIAR, and the Department of Agriculture-Abuyog Station.
The project is part of the “ACIAR-PCAARRD Horticulture Program on Fruits and Vegetables Phase 2” which aims to improve the livelihoods and food security of smallholder farmers in selected areas of Visayas and Mindanao.