Justin D’Silva
Daijiworld Media Network- Udupi
Udupi, June 20: Have you ever fancied growing fruits from abroad in your yard? A couple from Shirva of the district have proven that one can grow not only Bananas, Chickoos and Jackfruit in your yard but also fruits like Pakistan Mulberry and Duku and varieties from Brazilian and Thailand among others.
Robin D’Cruz and Jane Quadros, natives of Shirva are an enthusiastic couple who are fond of farming and nursery especially growing fruit-bearing plants. The duo has planted more than 200 varieties of fruit bearing plants from nations like Brazil, Mexico, Thailand, Taiwan, Borneo, Pakistan and many more.
The couple took interest in farming during the first lockdown of 2020. “As we both were at home, to spend our free time we started planting fruit saplings in our home yard. Our interest soon grew into a passion. Many of our friends and well-wishers noticed our interest and introduced us to new varieties of fruit plants from different nations”, says Jane Quadros.
The couple has grown some rare fruit plants like Arazaboi, Cedarbay Cherry, Jaboticaba, Manilla Cherry, Sweet Acerola, Strawberry Guava, Dragon fruit, Banana Chickoo, Santhol, Abiu, Black Sapota, Duku, Ice cream beans, Sweet Carambola, Blackberry Jam and many more. Many of these fruits are grown basically in Brazil, Mexico, Thailand, Taiwan, Borneo, Pakistan and few other tropical climate areas.
Fruiting is already completed in about 30 plants. Few more are about to fruit. The couple also grafts the plants. Robin is working in event management and Jane in IT sector but yet their commitment towards their passion for nursery activities is commendable.
Robin and Jane have planned to expand their farming activities in an institutionalized manner. A professional nursery is their next dream.
“We have 18 varieties of Jabotica. Escarlet being one of them, we have these plants in the entire Udupi district. We have harvested fruits from these within one and half year. All of them are planted in grow bags and pots. We started this as a terrace gardening exercise but our interest grew over the days. In future we are also planning to grow flower plants,” say Robin and Jane.
Currently they are getting fruits in very small quantities but in future, the duo is planning to expand their farm on a large scale. Many of their plants are bought by customers from Kerala and other states also.