Chakkakkoottam
Making the Most of Kerala's Jackfruit
Kerala grows more jackfruit than it knows what to do with. Most of it falls, rots, and goes to waste every season, while the farmers who grow it have no real market to sell it in. Chakkakkoottam, an initiative connected with Mithrakulam Charitable Trust, works with farmers and jackfruit lovers across the state to turn that surplus into food products — cutting waste and giving growers a fair price for a fruit that used to go unsold.
How It Started
- Started by Anil Jose as a small WhatsApp group connecting farmers and jackfruit enthusiasts
- Grew into a large network across Kerala and was formally registered as the Chakkakkoottam Organisation
What We Do
- Use every part of the jackfruit — seeds, bulbs, rind, and core — so nothing goes to waste
- Process “kothan chakka,” the under-ripe jackfruit usually thrown away, into nutrient-rich products
- Run regular training sessions with agricultural bodies on harvesting, machine maintenance, and making jackfruit products at home
- Hold a monthly training course in Chalakkudy, in partnership with Badal Jeevitha Oatana Kendram
Products We Make
Raw & tender jackfruit
- Ready-to-cook chilli tender jackfruit
- Tender jack burger patties — an all-natural, high-fibre meat alternative
- Jackfruit flour and powder — low-glycemic, used in chapati or dosa batter
Snacks & sweets
- Jackfruit chips, fried in coconut oil
- Jackfruit halwa and candy
- Ripe jackfruit palada mix
Beverages & preserves
- Jackfruit squash and juices
- Jams and chakkavaratti (jackfruit preserve)
Seed products
- Jackfruit seed powder — a protein-rich flour alternative used in baking
The Impact So Far
- Products are now stocked in major retailers including Lulu Hypermarket and Reliance Retail, priced from ₹100 to ₹1,000 depending on the product
- A network of collection agents across several districts buys surplus jackfruit from thousands of households that previously had no market for it
- Over 300 people trained so far, with more than 100 going on to start their own jackfruit businesses
Gallery
Join
Grow jackfruit, want to learn value addition, or want to stock our products? Get in touch with Mithrakulam Charitable Trust.
