Thailand apple or “Apple Ber" is high profitable fruit in India. Farmers do not know much about apple ber cultivation. Manipur is flooded with Apple ber from Myanmar and imports it from other Indian cities too. Why can't we grow this new fruit in Manipur. Cost of cultivation and maintenance is less for the plant. Market price for Apple Ber in India is Rs 120-Rs 170 per Kg.
Apple Ber tree is recommended for the regions having water scarcity as it requires very less water. It is best suited for high region. It survives easily even if not irrigated for a month. It can be intercropped with all crops. It grows well in all types of soil and is apt for all climatic conditions except colder regions like Jammu and Kashmir.
It surely is profitable for farmers to grow apple ber as after completing a year tree yields 40-60 kgs fruits, in 2nd year 80-10 kgs and in 3rd more than 100 kgs. “A farmer can easily earn Rs. 5 lakhs/annum. It has medicinal properties hence the demand is surely to increase,” he adds. Ideally it must be planted after summers as it starts flowering from September onwards and yields from January-March. In one acre 400-500 plants can be cultivated.
The leaves can be used as a laxative and for throat problems as a decoction and the same liquid can also be used for skin problems. The roots have wound healing properties too.
Medical researchers have found a “new” flavonoid in ber called zivulgarin and trials are underway to discover how it might benefit us. Oleamide found in an extract of Zizyphus jujube has been found to help fight Alzheimer’s disease, and help the cognitive processes.
It has been found that there is saponins in he leaves and vitamin C in the form of ascorbic acid in the fruit, as well as the B-complex vitamins, thiamin, riboflavin and pectin. It has immunostimulant, antioxidant and wound healing properties, and pectin is known to be useful in cases of diarrhoea. The fruit also helps lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Some of the triterpenoic acids isolated from the fruit are also believed to be useful in fighting cancer and HIV.
Apple Ber is profitable due to the following reasons:
Production after 6 Months of cultivation
Per Plant 20 to 25 kgs yield in first year
After first year 50 to 100 kg. produced per Tree
One Fruit weighing 50 125 gms
Looks and Tastes like Apple
No-Thorn-Tree
Fruits are big so Labour expenses less
Natural Pollination
Disease Free and Germ Resistant variety
Shelf Life is more
Price or selling rates are higher to traditional ber fruits
Two times yield in one year and Time can be adjusted.
