Eastern Visayas is ‘nangka’ country

CEBU CITY – If you see a good number of jackfruits (nangka) in your market round in Metro Manila or in this city, chan-ces are these fruits came from Eastern Visayas.

Department of Agriculture (DA) records show that jackfruit production in Region 8 has steadily increased through the years.

Today, according to the DA-Eastern Visayas Integrated Agricultural Research Center (EVIARC) based on Tacloban City (Leyte), Region 8 ships every week at most 500 pieces of jackfruit to other regions and major cities, particularly Manila and Cebu.

EVIARC headed by its manager Rufino Ayaso III reported on the progress of R&D activities of the center at the review of DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR)-funded R&D projects in the Central Philippines held recently at the DA-Regional Field Unit 7 office in Cebu City.

Now reviewing the BAR-supported projects is an external program and management review (EPMR) team headed by noted scientist Dr. Feliciano Calora. Also present during the review were Dr. Arturo Argañosa of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD); Rene Belen of EPMR; Aurora Pecson, Jeng Lapitan, both of BAR; and this writer.

Those who presented progress reports were Ayaso (Region 8), Dr. Tomasita Cadungong (Region 7), and Dr. Peter Sobrevega (Region 6).

Ayaso reported that jackfruit’s many uses (at least 18 have been recorded) and excellent adaptation to a wide range of growing conditions have contributed to its popularity.

"For many years, jackfruit has remained as a backyard crop. Surprisingly, it still leads all other minor fruit crops in production, ranking sixth overall after the country’s major fruit crops such as banana, mango, papaya, pineapple, and citrus," EWIARC stated.

To further boost the industry’s development in Eastern Visayas, the center has introduced a package of appropriate technology (PAT).

Among other things, the PAT identified jackfruit cultivars and accessions for commercial production in the region.

Of four varieties, Accession # 4, locally known as "burabod," has been approved for commercial planting by the National Seed Industry Council (NSIC). AES Jak # 1, AES Jack #2, and EAS Jak #3 are still being evaluated by NSIC.

The PAT also discussed cultural management of jackfruit, pest management, utilization, and market opportunities. – RAF