assam has large genetic pool of traditional fruit trees which can be taken raw, used in local cuisines, medicinal purposes and also as dry fruits and for decorations. Assam can benefit from export to its neighbours in South Asia and South East Asia

1. Export Potential of Traditional
Fruits of Assam
Bhargab Baruah *1, Sundar Barman2 and Bhoirab Gogoi 3
1Ph.D. Scholar, 2Asstt. Professor, Department of Extension
Education, 3Ph.D. Scholar, Department of Horticulture, Assam
Agricultural University

2. India
• A new structural change is
underway in Indian Agriculture:
horticultural production outstrips
food grain output by more than 31
million tonnes (2015-16); fourth
straight year since 2012-13 (11.3
million tonnes).
• Only 10% of India’s gross
cropped area.
• More than 33% of share in total
output from agriculture.
Small and marginal farmers in growing more fruits and
vegetables, driven by higher demand.
Still huge untapped potential in the form of a wide range of
traditional and wild fruit varieties is awaiting its turn.

3. • Shadeque1 (1989) viewed that the North – Eastern Region of India
with a mixed terrain of hills and plains, intercepted by large number
of small and big rivers, streams is nature’s unique gift for production
of number of horticultural crops, particularly fruits.
Assam
• Bari system.
• rich diversity in fruit crops.
• traditional fruits are eaten raw, used for culinary purposes, have
medical properties and are nowadays used as a source of income by
the poor people in rural areas.
Saikia (2015) identified and documented
total of 54 wild edible fruits belonging to
26 families with their local names in
Assamese, scientific name, family, time of
availability, taste and their uses.

4. • Significant increase in
the production of fruit
crops in the last one
decade – from 13.72 in
2006-07 to 20.56 in
2015-16.
Source: Dept. of Agri., Assam
Export of Fruit and Fruit products (2015-16)
Product Name Value (in lacs)
Other fresh fruits 421.88
Fresh mangoes 3.55
Fresh Grapes 1.07
Total 426.5
Source: APEDA
Assam can become a major player in emerging South East Asian markets
due to its close proximity to those global markets.

5. Name Bearing
per
plant
Traditional uses Value added products
Kothal (Artocarpus
heterophyllus Lamk.)
25-50
(10-30
kg/fruit)
Eaten raw; unripe fruits
as curry; seeds dried
and used in curries.
Jam, pickle, chips,
biscuits.
Amlokhi (Phyllanthus
emblica L.)
50-70 kg Eaten raw or dry or as
pickle
Ayurveda, Amla oil,
Amla fruit powder.
Ahom bogori
(Prunus persica (L.) Stokes)
NA Eaten raw or as pickle Fragrance oils,
paraffin wax (skin
ageing/moisture).
Bhumura
(Terminalia bellirica Roxb.)
NA Fruits are eaten raw Triphala; dye from
bark (cheap substitute
for indigo).

6. Name Bearing per
plant
Traditional uses Value added
products
Kola jamuk
(Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels)
70-80 kg Eaten raw Juice; Jamun chips
& supplement
(diabetes); fruit
powder (acne).
Bael
(Aegle marmelos Correa.)
200-500 Eaten fresh,
Sharbat, morabba
Bael juice, bael jam,
Bael toffee.
Xilikha
(Terminalia chebula Retz.)
NA Mature fruits are
eaten raw
Triphala, Haritaki
(one of the
ingredients of
triphala).
Kordoi (Averrhoa carambola); Outenga (Dillenia indica L.); Amara
(Spondius pinnata L.f. Kurz); Jolphai (Elaeocarpus floribundus);
Kau Thekera (Garcinia cowa Roxb.ex DC.)

7. Fruit Crop Countries exported to Form
Kothal UAE, Germany Live plants, dried parts of plants for
decorative purpose, packaged
perianth
Amlokhi Australia, Colombia, Pakistan, Taiwan,
Italy, Brazil, Singapore, Malaysia,
United States, South Africa
Green, capsules, extract powder,
puree, oil extract, berry whole.
Ahom Bogori Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Bahrain Essential oils, Carrier Oils, Kernel
Oils, Indan Mixed fruits.
Bhumura France, Iran, Australia, Nigeria,
Brazil, United States, Malaysia,
Netherlands, Germany, Canada
Organic triphala powder, 100%
organic powder, powdered extract
Kola Jamuk Singapore, Hungary, Vietnam, Japan,
Italy, China, Hungary, United
Kingdom, Germany, United States,
UAE, South Korea
Indian mixed fruit Black Berry, seed
(herbal) powder, dried fruit, Kernal.
Bael Sri Lanka, Canada, South Korea, Italy,
Germany, United States, Hungary
Bark, Rind, animal feed supplement,
dried part of flowers for decoration,
ingredient for dietary supplement
Xilikha France, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Czech
Republic, Iran, Poland, South Africa
Herbal cosmetic products, Country
drugs (Kadukkai Thodu), dietary
supplements, organic triphala

8. Fruit Crop Local Price/Unit (Rs.) Export price/ Unit (Rs.)
Kothal 20 756 (live plant); 21 (dried parts); 175(perianth
container-500gm)
Amlokhi 50/80 304 (berry whole); 1348 (extract powder); 205
(capsules); 741 (oil extract)
Ahom Bogori 40 147 (Indian mixed fruits); 1059 (Kernal oil)
Bhumura Unknown 240 (100% organic powder); 1605 (AYURIC)
Kola jamuk 60/120 3033(dry fruit); 180 (Indian mixed fruit Black
Berry); 757 (herbal seed powder)
Bael 20 62 (feed); 30000 (supplements); 3-8 (dried parts)
Xilikha 50 304 (triphala); 1316 (cosmetic); 6000 (natural
dietary supplements)
• Low price of traditional fruits.
• Most traditional fruits – abundant,
very low demand in local market.
• Export- higher income for
farmers’.

9. Summary and
Conclusion
• Farmers are well-
acquainted with the
minor fruit crops
• Native - no need for
acclimatization.
• Traditional - resistant
to the pest and diseases
• Maintain ecological
balance & biodiversity.
• Develop package of
practices.
• Research & development -
high yielding varieties of
traditional fruit crops
• Govt. policies and
programmes –
commercialization, market
linkage, sensitization of
youth to take up traditional
fruit based agri-business
enterprise.