By Kenneth Marcos 
In a small nursery in Eastern Visayas, young jackfruit trees stand tall, their healthy canopies promising fruit in just a few years. Farmers and gardeners look on with excitement—these are not ordinary jackfruit trees, but cleft-grafted EVIARC Sweet seedlings designed for faster, more reliable harvests.
Through cleft-grafting, the EVIARC Sweet jackfruit variety can produce fruit in as early as 2–3 years, compared to the usual 5–8 years for traditional seedlings. The technique has shown a remarkable 92% propagation success rate, resulting in compact, sturdy trees with improved canopy structure and better fruit development.
Each cleft-grafted seedling is a potential source of income. DA-certified plant nurseries sell them for around PhP 100 per seedling, offering a profit of PhP 35. In accredited private nurseries, seedlings can fetch up to PhP 250 each, giving local farmers and entrepreneurs an opportunity to earn while expanding fruit production.
Cleft-grafting involves joining a scion—a cutting from a mature, high-quality jackfruit tree—to a compatible rootstock. This encourages faster growth, healthier trees, and consistent fruit quality. For smallholders, this means earlier income from jackfruit harvests and a reduced waiting period for market-ready trees.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) through EVIARC (Eastern Visayas Integrated Agricultural Research Center) continues to promote this method as part of its research-for-development initiatives. By adopting cleft-grafting, local communities can improve farm productivity, diversify fruit production, and support food security.
Farmers interested in starting their own cleft-grafted jackfruit nursery can source seedlings from DA-certified or accredited private nurseries. Technical guidance and training are also available to ensure proper grafting techniques, care, and maintenance for optimal tree growth and fruit yield.
With the growing popularity of jackfruit as a nutritious and versatile fruit in local and export markets, faster-maturing trees can help farmers meet demand more efficiently. Beyond income, these trees contribute to sustainable farming practices and ecological benefits by providing shade and improving soil health.
For more information on cleft-grafted EVIARC Sweet jackfruit seedlings, interested farmers can contact Alicia D. Bulawan of DA-Eastern Visayas at alizbulawan1058@gmail.com or visit accredited nurseries in the region.
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