A little known fruit, synonymous with the northeast, is finding takers in the southern states of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Passion fruit is the rising star among fruits. Due to increasing demand for sweet, edible passion fruit and not the juice, farmers are scrambling to find the right varieties, even during their travels abroad.
What has fuelled this demand? Dengue fever. About a decade ago, dengue raged across Kerala for a full year. Doctors began recommending passion fruit to patients to increase their platelet count. People started asking around for the fruit for their sick relatives. This sudden demand. . .
