A man selling passion fruit

Silchar, June 10: True to its name, passion fruit has become a passion with horticulturists in Mizoram.

Ever since the first seedling of the tree that bears the fruit was planted in the Northeast’s tiniest state, growers have been aware of its economic potential. Their investment — money, time and hard work — is about to bear fruit.

Mizoram Food and Allied Industries Corporation (MIFCO) managing director Lalzarliana Renthlei today said concentrated passion fruit juice from the state would hit the Indian and overseas markets by the end of the year.

The state’s first fruit juice concentrate plant is coming up at Chhingchhip village, near the capital town of Aizawl, and is expected to go onstream by December. It will churn out an estimated 1,000 tonnes of passion fruit, pineapple and orange concentrate each year.

Delhi has sanctioned Rs 75 lakh to upgrade the food processing plant that is now under construction at Sairang village, also near Aizawl. It will churn out fruit juice, too, and market it in pet containers. Renthlei said the Chhingchhip plant would have a state-of-the-art machine called the super decanter centrifuge, manufactured in Italy, to ensure that the fruit concentrate matches global quality standards.

“We are negotiating with a packaging company and some retail corporate houses to market our products.”

Sources said the Mizoram government was also trying to convince Indian Airlines to add passion fruit juice to its in-flight menu. North Eastern Council (NEC) secretary P.L. Thanga visited the Chhingchhip plant last month. The NEC is part-funding the project.

Edible passion fruit is a rarity in the country and is grown only in the hills of Karnataka, apart from the Northeast. The Brazilian variety is the first choice of growers in Mizoram.

According to data available with the state horticulture department, passion fruit plantations span 3,952 hectares and the annual harvest totals 7,904 tonnes.

The first batch of passion fruit trees was planted in Aizawl district about a decade ago. It quickly caught the fancy of horticulturists across the rural belt.