Rubber price fluctuations may have dented the prospects of farmers in Kerala’s Central Travancore belt but most have switched to cultivation of Rambutan, a high-quality exotic fruit that has fetched a decent income to offset their losses.

Shifas Sulaiman, an Erumely-based marketing professional, is one such farmer who shifted to Rambutan cultivation from rubber on his two-acre plantation due to non-remunerative prices. Today he is earning around ₹2 lakh on a yield of 1.5 tonnes from 75 trees planted on 60 cents. Last year, his production was around one tonne with an income of ₹120-130 per kg.

Sulaiman, who had taken up rubber farming following the death of his father, told BusinessLine that dwindling prices, a tapper shortage and rising wage costs have forced many farmers to try their luck in several inter-crop items. Rambutan is one such crop that has ensured a better return.

Similar climatic needs

The fruit, he says, is well-suited for rubber growing areas with its similarclimate and soil needs. A farmer will get a minimum yield of 60-80 kg per year from a tree aged 8-10 years, thanks to the hybrid N-18 variety, developed by Kanjirappilly-based Home Grown Nursery and Farms.

This bud variety finds more acceptance among farmers as it begins yielding in the third year after planting, giving 6-10 kg a tree. Today, this special fruit grade is fetching a farmgate price of ₹200/kg, on an average.

A product of South-East Asia, Rambutan is a single seed juicy red/yellow fruit.

Besides Kerala, the crop is cultivated in parts of Karnataka, Mangaluru with varied seasons stretching to 6-8 months in tropical climates.

However, Jose Jacob, Managing Partner of Home Grown Nursery, is of the view that lack of awareness on the commercial importance of the fruit has affected its widespread farming. It can compete with North Indian Lychee whose estimated annual production stands at five lakh tonnes; Rambutan is only a meagre 5,000 tonnes. Of this, production of the N-18 variety accounts for about 1,000 tonnes.

Huge potential

Modern techniques like pruning and rejuvenation as followed in South-East Asian countries can further enhance productivity.

With a focussed farming approach, Jacob said the company is taking efforts to increase the sale of N-18 grades to ensure availability for at least nine months in a year.

The high Ranges of Idukki, Wayanad and other hilly terrains in the State are ideally suited for Rambutan farming, he said, adding that the N-18 variety’s shelf life of 5-6 days can definitely cater to the growing demand in domestic and overseas markets.

Besides Rambutan, the company is also in the process of introducing other hybrid fruit varieties such as Mangosteen, Pulasan, Durian and Longan shortly, Jacob said.

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