China looms as a potential market for Indian-grown arka sahan, a hybrid fruit variety that bares similarities to the custard apple, according the Times of India.
The Indian government has been lobbying its counterparts in the People’s Republic for market access for the fruit since Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China in May, with Chinese authorities following up with several enquiries.
The prospect of securing export access to China has excited scientists at the Indian Institute of Horticulture Research (IIHR), who spent 17 years developing the cultivar.
S H Jalikop was amongst the IIHRresearch and development team. The now retired principal scientist said the fruit boasted superior nutritional value and shelf life to the pure-bred custard apple, making it an attractive option for exporters.
“Though arka sahan is similar to custard apple (known as sitaphal in southern India), it is a new fruit in itself,” Jalikop told the Times of India. “It is made up of 75 per cent sitaphal and 25 per cent cherimoya.”
While small volumes of arka sahan have been available in the Indian market since the early 2000’s, commercial volumes of the fruit are only being reached now.
