Pooppathy: The jackfruit preserving unit at Poopathi, a first such unit in the public sector, is almost on the verge of dilapidation after it has been abandoned by the authorities. The unit was started to collect and preserve jackfruit on commercial basis and to launch various food products made from jackfruit in the international market under the Kerala Brand. Besides, the authorities had promised multiple employment opportunities to the local residents at the preserving unit. 

The project was launched by former minister VK Rajan. The initial idea was to develop it as a fruit and vegetable preserving unit. The foundation stone of the building was laid, 28 years ago, by then agriculture minister Krishnan Kaniyamparambil. The plot was then abandoned for years before inaugurating a jackfruit preserving unit under the Agro Food Park in 2016. 

Meanwhile, the factory was inaugurated by Minister VS Sunilkumar in 2018. The factory and the associated firms started functioning with ₹1.25 crore as an initial capital obtained under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. The authorities had aimed to produce value added products like jackfruit payasam, kondattam, jackfruit chammanthi powder, pulp, jackfruit bar, jackfruit halwa, jam, jackfruit seed products, jackfruit rind pickle and candies at the factory. Besides, they had plans to produce cattle feed using jackfruit rind. 

There were also plans to produce value added products from tapioca and plantains. Although the authorities had hoped to enjoy hefty financial returns, it didn’t happen. 

The corporation managing director, in April 2022, instructed to shut down the factory citing financial crisis, regular maintenance works for the machinery, faults in fetching jackfruit as well as the strict guidelines of the food safety authority. Meanwhile, complaints have been rife that the Kerala Agro Industries Corporation had failed to arrange necessary facilities at the factory, causing its downfall. 

The employees are in a crisis after the factory has been shut down. Those who were hoping to get employed here too are dejected. Although VR Sunilkumar MLA had tried hard to resume the functioning of the factory and the preserving unit, nothing worked out. The factory had only a 20 kg dryer when it actually required a 500 kg dryer. Besides, the lack of facilities in controlling heat, work area and a generator severely affected the functioning of the factory. 

The factory and its premises are now covered in bushes and thickets. The local residents have been urging the authorities to resume the functioning of the factory before the expensive machinery and other equipment get damaged.