Rambutan cultivation replacing arecanut

DHNS

Koppa, 12 September 2011: Rambutan fruit, a native to Malaysia has emerged as an effective alternative to arecanut in Malnad.

 

With the farmers incurring loss due to Yellow leaf disease affecting arecanut, the farmers have started growing Rambutan and are making profit.

 

The Rambutan fruit is sold at Rs 60 to Rs 80 per kg. In cities, it is sold at Rs 250 per kg. The transportation of the fruit is easy as it will not spoil even after a week.

 

Vasanth Kumar of Harandoor has successfully grown Rambutan trees which has started bearing fruits.

 

This fruit resembles litchi, except for its long, flesh coloured spines. It’s eaten after opening the rind or cutting it around the middle and tearing it apart. The rind does not cling to the flesh which is pearly white, juicy and sweet with a sub-acid flavour. There is a single seed inside. The flowering of the tree occurs from June and the fruits mature from June to September. A tree bears fruit for 30 years. One can get nearly one quintal fruit from a tree in a year. Fresh Rambutan contains a substantial amount of Vitamin C and B. For details on Rambutan one can contact Vasanth Kumar at 9449540555.