Indian farmers eye monk fruit for healthier future
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Shimla: Sugarcane and beetroot are grown in India in bulk, but now focus has been gradually shifting towards a fruit named ‘monk fruit,’ a natural sweetener. The demand for natural sugar is growing due to rising diabetes and obesity patients. This fruit’s sweetener has been considered natural and an alternative to sugar.
Monk fruit, a small green fruit, is being used in Chinese medicine for the treatment of several diseases. Currently, it is gaining popularity as a natural, calorie-free sweetener that keeps the blood sugar levels under control, making it a boon for diabetic patients. It flourished well in warm, humid climates; 20°C and 30°C temperatures are ideal for its growth. Besides this, it needs perfect air circulation as well as moderate rainfall.
The cultivation of monk fruit is taking place in several states, such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, and the hilly regions of Kerala and Karnataka, because the conditions are perfect for the farming of this fruit. Its cultivation has opened new income opportunities for Indian horticulture farmers.