Jackfruit, a uniquely versatile and nutrient-dense tropical fruit, has established itself as a valued product in the global agri-food system. Jackfruit has traditionally been grown in homestead systems in the Indian context but has gained international fame as a vegan meat substitute, fruit, and ingredient in traditional and new recipes.

The recent surge in jackfruit exports poses unprecedented opportunities for India’s smallholder farmers. The increasing international demand for frozen jackfruit from India is changing rural livelihoods as farmers increasingly connect directly to profitable markets abroad, and contributing to rural development and export earnings for the country as a whole.

The Potential of Jackfruit in India

India holds the title of being the leading global jackfruit producer, managing about 1.4 million tonnes of jackfruit every year. Key producing regions include Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Odisha, Assam, and West Bengal; Kerala and Tamil Nadu are known for their high-yielding high-quality cultivars of jackfruit trees.

Smallholder farmers are a key part of this operation, often growing mixed-crop orchards with jackfruit trees in the production system. Jackfruit trees have generally been cultivated for their low input needs, tolerance to pest infestation, and high yields. 

The seasonality of the fruit, with harvests at their peak between March and September, allows for regular harvests and stable income. Many trees produce over 100 jackfruit per season, and jackfruit has developed into one of the most lucrative income sources available for farmers looking to supply jackfruit in bulk as a reliable cash crop. 

With government and research agency support for processing and value-adding to jackfruit, it has true potential as a cash crop for domestic and export markets. In fact, it contributes to a new generation of jackfruit suppliers in India specifically for export purposes.

Global Demand for Jackfruit

Globally, the demand for jackfruit has dramatically increased, especially for frozen raw jackfruit and frozen tender jackfruit. These fruits appeal to vegan, vegetarian, and health-conscious consumers looking to enjoy jackfruit as a healthy, plant-based meat alternative that has fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

In 2023-24, India exported about 26.66 million kgs. of jackfruit worth around USD 40.14 million to over 175 countries, with key markets including the USA, Saudi Arabia, Netherlands, UAE, Germany, and the UK.

The bulk frozen jackfruit category is highly popular because it provides access to off-season availability, year-round supply, and enhanced shelf life to international markets. Healthiness, the growth in the category of ⁠frozen tender jackfruit in packaged foods, snack food and ready-to-eat food, and the overall consumer shift toward ethical, sustainable food choices is stimulating this boom.

Why Exports Benefit Small-Scale Farmers

For small-scale farmers, the direct connection to export markets through jackfruit exporters in India has been a game-changer:

• Greater Income and Market Diversification: Leading to international business, farmers can reach buyers willing to pay higher prices for certified and well-packaged products, with developers going as high as a 50 per cent margin over domestic business.

• Less Reliance on Intermediaries: With direct and/or cooperative-type export relationships, farmers can eliminate the use of local commission agents and capture a larger percentage of the final value of the exported jackfruit.

• Bulk Sales and Value Add: The ability to sell jackfruit in bulk and sell ⁠raw jackfruit frozen, sliced, or processed (including flour and chips) allows for seasonality of the vegetables, creates household resilience, and promotes revenue diversification throughout the year.

This upgrade helps to empower rural communities and aid their professionalization, encouraging farmers to invest in land productivity and sustainability with confidence.

Challenges & How Farmers Can Overcome Them

In spite of the opportunities, Indian smallholders face considerable obstacles to jackfruit export:

• Perishability: Fresh jackfruit, is very perishable, and requires fast post-harvest handling and logistical logistics to mitigate losses, especially during peak season, or to long distance markets.

• Quality Standards and Compliance: Exporters and vendors have to strictly comply with international certifications programs such as: HACCP, FSSAI, and phytosanitary to access European and North American markets.

• Market Access: limited to no understanding of export protocols and buyer preferences may limit entry into mature global markets.
  

Possible solutions are to form farmer cooperatives, which simplifies shared post-harvest handling, investments in processing, and distribution or work with established jackfruit exporters in India who have the experience of compliance, documentation and international marketing.

Government Support & Export Initiatives

The government of India is promoting jackfruit exports through APEDA and related institutions. The Market Access Initiative (MAI) and Transport & Marketing Assistance (TMA) program offer subsidies for smallholders, support to become export-quality certified, access to cold storage, and packaging infrastructure.

For instance, APEDA’s horticultural produce project has enticements such as frozen tender jackfruit, bulk frozen jackfruit exports, and subsidizing for costs relating to audits, residue testing, and international marketing. 

Additionally, both national and state agricultural authorities are offering workshops, training, partnerships for mobility, and motivating smallholders to participate in international bulk jackfruit trade.

Tips for Farmers Entering Export Market

For smallholders interested in involving themselves in the jackfruit export market, the approach to being successful is as follows:

• Work together with certified jackfruit suppliers and exporters, in which case all involved can collaborate on combining product sales for volume, transportation, and logistics, and scale.

• Make investments in infrastructure, such as local cold storage to hold jackfruit, or mobile processing units for converting jackfruit to prepared jackfruit with raw or tender jackfruit for expedited bulk-export marketing.

• Your brand and packaging matters, as developing high-quality, attractive, aesthetically pleasing packaging, specific to each market, perhaps with an indication of origin just as marketing would create a greater chance of visibility on the shelf, along with consumer preference.

• Keeping up to date with export protocols, certification of food safety institutions, and using consultants to navigate the requirements of customs clearance to be as smooth as possible.

Conclusion

To summarize, jackfruit export is quickly becoming a game changer for Indian smallholder farmers. The strong demand for bulk frozen jackfruit and other processed forms in international markets should provide farmers with better, more stable income, allow them access to new markets, and enable them to engage in the global value chain. By adhering to quality requirements and making strategic supply chain investments, frozen jackfruit sourced from one of the top ⁠⁠jackfruit exporters in India like BR Global Trade, provides farmers with sustainable livelihoods while serving a global need for sustainable, ready-to-eat, nutritious, and versatile foods.