Kerala Farmer Thrives with Rare “Fruit of Heaven”, Rakes in Lakhs from Seed Sales

Jojo Punnakkal, a 49-year-old farmer from Amalapuram near Angamaly in Kerala, discovered the unique Gac fruit at an exhibition in 2018. Despite his limited knowledge about the fruit, he decided to cultivate it in his backyard, ultimately leading to his successful venture, generating an income of approximately Rs 2 lakh by selling its seeds.

Jojo Punnakkal researched Gac online, discovering its origins in China and Vietnam, as well as its rich nutritional profile, including various vitamins and minerals. As his cultivation efforts progressed, news about Gac farming at Jojos home began to spread.

Those few seeds eventually transformed his life, sparking a deeper passion for agriculture and shaping his future in ways he never imagined.

Jojo Journey with Gac Fruit

Jojo has expanded his business by producing juice and other value-added products from the Gac fruit to meet growing market demand. He is now also selling saplings, with a 500 sqft area needed to grow both male and female plants. The plants take six months to mature and produce the fruit, which is not only delicious but also packed with nutrients like Vitamin A, E, C, Magnesium, and Zinc. Pharmaceutical companies are using the fruit to make health supplements and vitamin capsules.

It is an easy-to-grow plant, Jojo shared with CountryFarmss. I have been receiving orders from supermarkets and large fruit stalls for the fruit. In fact, I cannot even meet the demand for it.

But I was even more amazed to learn about its nutritional quality and the huge market for these fruits and its value-added products in many countries,” he adds.

Jojo Growing Success

He recalls planting six Gac plants in the beginning, three male and three female, though he did not know their gender until the plants bore fruit. In December 2018, we got our first fruits, and it was fascinating to see the vibrant-coloured fruits hanging from the vines like bulbs. The fruit starts off green, then turns yellow, followed by orange, and finally a reddish-orange color, he explains.

Jojo plans to expand his Gac farming, with a focus on value-added products and selling saplings. The climate in Kerala is ideal for Gac. Each plant can bear around 70 to 80 fruits in a season," he adds.

The market price for 1 kg of Gac fruit ranges between Rs 900 to Rs 1,200, but I have not started selling the fruits commercially yet, says Jojo. I have primarily focused on preserving seeds to expand cultivation and sell them. Jojo sells Gac fruit seeds for Rs 300 per packet, each containing six seeds, as it is difficult to identify male and female seeds until the plants flower.

He adds, "I have earned around Rs 15,000 per month, and about Rs 2 lakh per year from selling seeds."

Ramesan from Kannur, a customer who bought seeds from Jojo, shares, "I visited Jojo and bought the seeds last year. Within three months, they flowered, and the plants have yielded around 200 fruits so far."

Jojo explains that Gac fruits grow best in areas with good sunlight and a slightly dry climate, where irrigation is possible. For successful pollination, it is essential to grow both male and female plants. "Though pollination can happen naturally, manual pollination ensures around 90% success, whereas natural pollination only results in about 40% success. The ideal ratio is one male plant for every five female plants."

Jojo also highlights that he uses only organic fertilizers like cow dung powder for the plants. While the Gac fruit is not sweet and lacks a distinct taste, it is often consumed as juice with added sugar or honey. "We mainly use the ripe fruit to make juice, adding other fruit flavors. It is consumed for its medicinal benefits and can easily be incorporated into food and drinks," he explains. Jojo also uses raw Gac fruit as a vegetable to make thoran or add to curries, though he notes, "It tastes a bit bitter when eaten raw.

The red pulp surrounding the Gac fruit seeds is a natural coloring agent, and in Vietnam, it is often used to add vibrant color to rice dishes served during auspicious events like weddings and festivals," says Jojo.

He notes that several other value-added products such as skin creams, soaps, jams, and oils can also be made from the fruit. "But unfortunately, people in India are still unaware of the potential of this magical fruit, which is sad. That is why I decided to sell the seeds to those interested in cultivating it. So far, I have distributed seeds to over 3,000 people, and around 300 of them have already started harvesting the fruits," Jojo adds

I have entered into a deal with a company to grow more Gac plants and supply them with the fruits. They will be supplying me with 125 saplings soon as part of the agreement, he exclaimed.

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Edited by

Gayathri