When people think of the Konkan region, the first things that come to mind are the famous Alphonso mango and cashew. But today, a new agricultural revolution is emerging from Konkan, and its name is commercial jackfruit farming.

There was a time when jackfruit was considered nothing more than a tree growing in home gardens or along farm boundaries. Hardly anyone imagined establishing a dedicated jackfruit orchard. Challenging this conventional mindset, Harishchandra Desai from Lanja taluka in Ratnagiri district saw jackfruit from an entirely different perspective.

He imported 400 saplings representing 36 different jackfruit varieties from Kerala and established a commercial plantation. At that time, many people questioned his decision and even ridiculed him. Today, however, his pioneering effort has inspired thousands of farmers to adopt commercial jackfruit cultivation.