"The Golden Tree"

                 

   Jackfruit or Artocarpus heterophyllus is an evergreen tree that is distributed mainly in tropical regions like India, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia. Normally it grows up to 8-25m in height with a 30-80cm diameter trunk. The leaves are broad, elliptical and dark green in color which can grow up to 15-20cm long. The flowers of the jackfruit tree are small and unisexual. In the early years jackfruit tree has rapid growth which can reach up to 1.5m/year in height. Then growth is slowing to about 0.5m/year and can live more than 100 years. After 3 or 4 years from planting trees become matured and start to produce fruits. Jackfruit is the largest tree-borne fruit in the world with 60cm in length and around 18-35kg weight. Can see fruits in the main and side branches of the tree. Jackfruit tree has relatively high productivity. A matured jackfruit can produce 10 to 200 fruits per year. These fruits are composed of bulbs with a seed and flesh. During ripening the color of jackfruit is changed from green to yellow. After pollination, it takes around 3-7 months to complete the fruit development process.

 

                   There is an old saying that “success is like a jackfruit. Looks rough from outside and beautiful from inside”. Yes, it is true. Jackfruit is rough from the outside due to its spiky skin but it’s very tasty food and gives many benefits. Both seed and flesh of jackfruit are consumed which are full of many nutrients as carbohydrate, protein, fiber, vitamin C, vitamin B3, vitamin B6, vitamin B7, vitamin B9, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Present studies show that a ripe jackfruit has more minerals and vitamins than apple, banana, or avocado. Unripe jackfruit is eaten as a vegetable as well as ripe jackfruit is eaten as a fruit. Unripe jackfruit is cooked and make delicious curries or used to make pickle. Ripe jack fruit is eaten fresh or used to make ice cream, jelly, and jam. Seeds can be eaten roasted, boiled, or dried. Sometimes make flour from jackfruit seeds and use in bakery productions. There are a number of various delicious foods made by jackfruit worldwide. Not only fruit but also bark, roots, and leaves are used for traditional and folk medicine due to their anti-carcinogenic, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, and hypoglycemic effects. Diseases as asthma, diarrhea, and typhoid fever are treated by using the leaves and roots of the jackfruit tree. And also it helps to keep a healthy heart. The wood of the jackfruit tree is not much heavy but it is strong, elastic, and termite resistant so commonly used to make furniture. In Indonesia, gamelan drums are made out of jack wood. The fiber in the bark of the jack tree used to make tapa cloth. Latex can be identified in each and every part of the tree and used as adhesive and the resins within the latex are used as varnishes. In animal husbandry use leaves and fruits as animal feed. When jackfruit is overripe it is fallen down. These fallen fruits and leaves act as a natural fertilizer for other plants and increase the fertility of the soil. Like these jackfruit trees gives us many benefits through its’ each and every part.

                      When talking about Sri Lanka jackfruit tree is called as “bath gasa” and it is commonly used food by Sri Lankans from ancient times. Arthur V Dias is one of the most famous characters known as “kos mama” who started the jackfruit propagation campaign in 1918. This campaign helped to protect Sri Lankans from starvation during the world war. While the nearest countries as Bengal, and Vietnam were suffering from starvation.

                     Finally, want to say it is important to protect jackfruit trees which is very beneficial and which can protect us from food shortage or starvation. As humans, it is very useful to plant jackfruit trees for the future.