Jackfruit: A Giant fruit that can change your fortunes

Jackfruit hanging from a tree. [Courtesy]

The jackfruit, popularly known as Fenesi in Swahili is a favourite dessert especially in Busia County and the Coast, around Kwale. According to Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (Kalro), about 65 per cent of the jackfruit in Kenya is found in Busia County. Other important counties producing jackfruit are Kakamega, Bungoma, Vihiga and Nyanza (Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Coastal (Kwale, Kilifi, Lamu and Taita Taveta), Central (Muranga and Kirinyaga) and Eastern (Tharaka Nithi and Meru) counties. In 2020, this fruit was characterised as a “super fruit” in India. Jackfruit produces the largest edible fruit that weighs as high as 50kg. Gabriel Simiyu from Busia county has planted the fruit for some time, he tells what it takes to cultivate it.