Lok Sabha Question No. 5265 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-27
Subject: Development of Custard Apple
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: ASADUDDIN OWAISI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5265 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27/03/2018

## DEVELOPMENT OF CUSTARD APPLE

## 5265.  SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f"k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Indian  Institute  of  Horticulture  Research  (IIHR)  has  developed  a variety of custard apple high in nutritional value;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether this variety of custard apple is different from the same fruit in South India called Arka Sahan, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has seen any export potential of this new fruit; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and time by which its production is likely to start in large scale?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f'k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h

## (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) Yes, Madam. ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru in the year 2000 developed a variety of custard apple called 'Arka Sahan'.
- (b) Custard  apple  cv.  Arka  Sahan  was  developed  from  the  progeny  of  Island  Gem ( Annona atemoya Hort.) X  Mammoth ( A . squomosa L.). The fruits mature in the month of September-October. This variety has bigger size fruits with average fruit weight of 525 g. The fruit skin is waxy, light green in colour, moderately thick rind (0.5 cm).  The fruit pulp  is  creamy  white,  juicy  with  mild  pleasant  aroma  and  less  seed   (9  /100  g  Pulp). Fruits  are  sweet  with  22.8%  total  sugars  and  more  than  30°B  TSS  and  lower  acidity (0.30%). Fruits are also rich in Phosphorus (42.29 mg), Calcium (225 mg) and have shelf life of 6-7 days. A grown up orchard may produce 10-12 tonnes of fruits /ha every year. It is suitable for cultivation in hot dry regions. The variety requires manual pollination for higher yield of quality fruits.

(c) Yes  Madam,  this  is  the  same  Arka  Sahan  variety  released  by  ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru. This variety  was popularized by ICAR-IIHR among the farmers and so far Institute has supplied more than two lakh grafted plants. Apart from this, many private nurseries are also multiplying the plants of Arka Sahan. Now it is commercially grown in more than five state of India.

(d) Yes, Madam.  Arka Sahan is highly suitable for export both as fresh fruit and as processed products. This variety has high pulp content of 65-70% as against 35-40% in other varieties of custard apple.

(e) Most  of  the  commercial  Arka  Sahan  plantations  have  been  established  in Karnataka,  Maharashtra,  Andhra  Pradesh,  Rajasthan,  Gujarat  and  Tamil  Nadu.  At present, majority of them are in pre-bearing age and economic yield of Arka Sahan can be harvested after 6 years of planting. The area under this variety is increasing every year and large quantities of fruits will be available for export in near future.

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