How jackfruit is transforming the lives of Nigerian women

By Emem Umoh, founder and CEO, Women in Nature Conservation Organization (GLFx Uyo)

Dressed in their glimmering traditional outfits, 26 local women gathered beneath the sprawling canopy of the ancient jackfruit tree. 

Among them were seven respected elders who have grown and harvested jackfruits for over four decades, following in the path of their foremothers who had cultivated the land, grown jackfruits and woven their secrets into the fabric of their community. 

The gathering came alive with the sweet scent of ripening jackfruits from a majestic tree standing tall in the village square and bearing at least 35 sizable fruits.

The snarled branches whispered tales of the women’s ancestors, who believed the versatile jackfruit’s ancient magic could heal, feed, protect and bring prosperity.

As they worked together, shelling jackfruits and preparing them for the International Women’s Day celebration, their laughter and whispers carried the stories of generations, their bond strengthened by the trees’ enduring presence. 

The younger members listened with wonder, ready to absorb the ancient wisdom and timeless traditions tied to the majestic tree.

“As I gazed up at the tree’s vibrant green leaves, I felt an inexplicable connection to my community of birth, my heritage and the mysterious fruit that could change the life of my people, the entire world and our planet forever,” said elder Eka Vincent.

Many small villages in Nigeria suffer from a lack of employment opportunities, especially for women. Most villagers who struggle to make ends meet rely on subsistence farming and the small-scale trading of agelong wood-based carving – a trade that drives deforestation.

Vulnerable women, especially widows and older women, are often eager to sell mature fruit trees to be carved for a small amount of money that will nevertheless be enough to feed their families that week. 

But once felled and the meal served, the tree and its fruits lose all of their value. This has long-term implications for women, who are also the most affected by deforestation as they are often unemployed and have limited access to credit, training and market linkages.

My story with jackfruit

My name is Emem Umoh, and I am from Ukana Ikot Akpabin, a small village in Essien Udim, Akwa Ibom State, in the south of Nigeria.

Growing up, I witnessed the abundance of unique and ecologically important fruit trees like bush mango, star apple, walnut, and jackfruits. 

But while other fruits were highly regarded, the jackfruit was undervalued and underused. A few community members would occasionally eat the bulbs of the ripe fruits, leaving most of it to waste. This trend continued for many years. 

Many years later, many of our fruit trees were gone – which is why I decided to help bring them back and find ways to create better economic opportunities for women.

In 2015, I founded the Women in Nature Conservation Organization (WINCO) – an organization born out of a need I saw to conserve biodiversity and find sustainable sources of income for women in my village and neighboring areas.

For a decade now, my team and I have been carrying out extensive research on ways to use and eat jackfruit, including processing it into value-added products. 

These studies led to our jackfruit value chain initiative, which teaches women to harvest jackfruit and process them into higher-value products. 

“This program has enabled me to provide more meal options like Ubo Eto fig (jackfruit porridge) and chips from our remaining jackfruit tree for my household of eight,” says Magdalene Polycarp, community coordinator of the town of Ikot Uforo for the Ikot Akpabin Community Women in Conservation Group (IKaWIC).

“My husband is a small trader of wooden gongs and drums. I no longer have to wait for him to return home before planning what to cook for the family.”

Jackfruit has become a vital source of food, income and community among women in my village. We are also teaching women how to plant and care for their fruit trees to keep them healthy and reduce waste.

Health benefits of jackfruit

Jackfruit is a powerhouse of nutrients, providing protein, fiber, potassium, magnesium and vitamins A, C and B6. It also has antioxidant properties, which may help protect against chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease. 

The largest tree fruit on Earth, it can be either eaten when still hard and unripe and used like a potato or harvested when soft and ripe to make smoothies, batter or salad. The flesh has a sweet, distinctive flavor, which some people describe as a cross between banana and pineapple. 

To reap all of its benefits, we have to begin with the process of planting, growing, harvesting and processing this superfruit. 

The jackfruit value chain involves a series of processes and activities that make up the production, processing, marketing and distribution of jackfruit products. It involves engaging stakeholders through stages like primary production, post-harvest handling, processing, manufacturing, value addition, marketing and distribution to end users.

How we grow our jackfruit

Jackfruit trees start their life from the seeds of a mature fruit collected and given the right treatment to germinate.

Typically, seeds are soaked in water for 24 hours to speed up the germination process. Seeds shoot out after three to seven days. It is such a beautiful process to behold. 

These trees also have an extensive root system, holding soil in place preventing erosion, reducing sedimentation in waterways, protecting biodiversity and maintaining soil fertility. They provide a habitat for countless species, from arthropods to small mammals: butterflies, bees, grasscutters, antelopes, bats and birds. 

By planting new fruit trees and preserving this ecosystem, we safeguard biodiversity while also providing ecosystem services for the local community.

At WINCO, we help train and teach local women how to sow jackfruit seeds, plant trees and eventually harvest their fruits. 

Not only do we help train women to plant and use jackfruit, but we focus on how to raise these trees sustainably by teaching methods to manage jackfruit trees throughout every life stage, from establishing nurseries to raising seedlings, transplanting, watering, pruning, monitoring and pre- and post-harvest management and processing.

“In previous years, when we were not introduced to different ways of processing jackfruit, I usually took the fruit to the market and brought it back,” says community member Elizabeth Uko.

“One day on my way back home, I actually threw one away in the bush because of the weight and the fact that I never had any need for it aside from eating the ripe pulp. But today, there is no more wastage because I no longer have leftover supply. When I cannot sell them all, which is rare, I bring the fruit home, process it into other products and can even sell it at a higher price.”

Reducing food waste is a crucial part of this effort. Before our intervention, jackfruit seeds were typically discarded as waste. Our research and training helped change this. 

Now, by drying jackfruit seeds using solar energy, local women can preserve seeds during the off-season. Our team has also trained them to control and sustain sales, such as by jointly setting prices. 

Together, we gather around kitchens to peel jackfruits, drying the peels to use as an excellent source of fuel, briquettes and biochar. 

In the last two years, women across Essien Udim have processed 100 kilograms of dried jackfruit peels for eco-friendly cooking and started working on producing briquettes and biochar.

At least 20 trained local women have incorporated Eto fig – our local name for jackfruit – into their diets in the form of products like jackfruit porridge, smoothies and chips. About 80 percent of households we’ve surveyed have reported improved access to nutritious food.  

“Jackfruit not only serves as an alternative source of food for me and my family but a stable source of income,” says Chief Umana of the Ikot Uforo community. 

“Ubo Eto fig (jackfruit porridge) is my favorite, and my wife always keeps it on our weekly menu. I would like to establish not only a jackfruit plantation in Essien Udim but also a cottage industry to empower more women and youths and to diversify sources of income.”

Finding hope, one jackfruit at a time

Jackfruit offers myriad economic opportunities for local women as they can generate a steady income by processing jackfruit and selling the products. This also helps them build ecopreneur skills and financial independence. 

Around 20 women in my village have embraced jackfruit farming, providing sustainable livelihoods for them and creating employment opportunities for an estimated 120 men and young people, who are paid to harvest, procure, transport and take part in one or more of the various stages of local processing and marketing of jackfruits.

It is beautiful to see women become more confident in their decision making and boost their social status by starting small businesses and providing for their families. The jackfruit value chain also fosters social connections and community engagement through local meetings, harvesting events and interactions at markets. 

I have seen the work of preparing jackfruit become a social event, enhancing our community ties and helping preserve our culture. We are unlocking the full potential of our women, giving them access to new opportunities and contributing to a more equitable society.                                                              

The more you look, the more you see – this is how I feel reflecting on the past eight years working with women and jackfruit in my community.

Each day looks different. Some days I am out training women; other days, I’m harvesting the fruit, or at my desk testing new products to serve the local economy. 

I hope to see women explore new ways to generate income with jackfruit. I want to see them continue to improve their livelihoods and build food security in their communities, while also conserving biodiversity, promoting climate action and sustainably managing our community forests at the same time.