Twelve years ago, Jyothi Lighitharaj and her family had to weather a period of financial hardship after her husband’s decade-long hammock export business suddenly collapsed owing to shrinking orders. Around the same time, she chanced upon an article about a training programme on making value-added products from jackfruit at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Kayamkulam. Attending the week-long training, Jyothi found a lifeline in jackfruit and thus began her entrepreneurial journey.
Ms. Jyothi who reeled under bankruptcy over a decade ago is now earning around ₹2 lakh per month, thanks to her thriving enterprise specialising in jackfruit-based products. The woman, who bagged an award from the State Agriculture department for her entrepreneurial skills earlier this year, uses almost all parts of jackfruit, the official fruit of Kerala, to make 60 value-added products, all comestibles such as halwa, pickles, dry chutney, health drink, cookies, to name a few.
While the products are processed and manufactured in two units at Kalapura and Kayamkulam in Alappuzha, she markets them through various fairs in and outside Kerala. Besides, she runs three ‘Jack World’ shops at Pandalam in Pathanamthitta, Ambalappuzha in Alappuzha and Nayathode in Kochi and has several long-term loyal customers
