Unattended Fruits of Paschimanchal: Custard Apple

Arsha block in Purulia is an  enviable seat of agricultural practices, innovative ideas and dry land farming.  Natural endowments are scarce to the region relative to other parts. Undulating ,rolling surface, paucity of water and inaccessibility relative to other parts of the state have given strength to the dwellers to adopt and module livelihood based farming system. From time immemorial they  are growing sugarcane under rain-fed condition.  In the harsh soil they have their own cultivars of Kulthi(horsegram). Last year despite erratic rainfall and drought like situation this crop saved them and their animals.  I saw sagrsuti -a kind of beans grown in the worst soil under worst situation  . Similarly, I have found many of them growing Ginger in the uplands.  Groundnut is also their traditional crop.There are many other crops,trees  suitable to dry tracts you can find in Arsha block or its adjoining areas. However, the zeal of entrepreneurship or business motive is seldom here.
This year I had a visit to some of the villages ,viz; Harmadi, Nunuya, Ghatiali, Goalikocha etc,where my student Biman has been doing excellent jobs in propagating WADI-mission of GVT.  under his able stewardship new orchards of mangoes, guavas etc. are coming up.  While on visiting those, I was struck to sporadic natural grown sitafal. This is locally called Madal. This is nothing but custard apple.  I was fascinated to see the sizes and flesh of these apples. I sat down to the premises of Laxmi Murmu at Harmadi. i asked her;
" how many madal trees are there?"
"three"-replied
"how many do you get?"
She was hesitant this time.  Any way she answered she sold 50 kgs last year. Thus, i came to conclude that 5 fruits equal to 1 kg. and she got 80-90 fruits per tree, obviously she and others have tasted a lot.
This is a unique fruit-crop in the area. This crop is grown in the courtyard of every house there.Commercialization is yet to be developed.
I asked how much price do u receive now. She prompted : "Rs.20 per kg,"
On hearing this Biman whispered " Sir yesterday I purchased @ Rs.60 per kilo."

I said " it is grown unattended and  sold unattended "