A resident of Idukki in Kerala, Rani Sunny spends her days surrounded by the lush greenery of cardamom and jackfruit plantations spread across 4.5 acres of land in her backyard. While her family harvested cardamom, they would chop down the jackfruits from the trees, unaware of the value they would bring years later.
“Our area is known for cardamom farming, and like other farmers in the region, we also grew jackfruit trees to provide shade to the small cardamom trees. Each tree would yield between 10 and 50 jackfruits, but we would throw them away without considering their potential to turn a profit,” she says.
For Rani, jackfruit had little value until 2017, when she saw the potential in the plentiful resource after attending a training programme.
By harnessing the versatility of jackfruit, Rani developed a range of innovative products — including dried jackfruit, dried jackfruit powder, frozen tender jackfruit, wholesome jackfruit powder, dried jackfruit seed, dried jackfruit seed powder, and jackfruit pulp. These were later used to make supplements, cutlets, burger patties, and more.
That same year, the 57-year-old embarked on a remarkable entrepreneurial journey by deciding to start her own business, ‘Eden Jackfruit Products’. Beginning in a small room next to her house, Rani has since established a profitable business, earning up to Rs 8 lakh annually.
Setting up a multi-lakh jackfruit biz through value-addition
As a child, Rani relished delicacies made from jackfruits. “Whenever I came home from school, my mother would offer us kumbilappam (steamed jackfruit cone cakes made with rice flour and jaggery) and chakka puzhukku (mashed jackfruit cooked with grated coconut and spices),” she fondly remembers.
“She would also make chakka vattal chips made from jackfruits, which taste even better than the famous banana chips. My sibling and I would often fight over them,” she laughs, as she reminisces her childhood memories.
Though Rani went on to pursue higher education, she dropped out of her bachelor’s programme in arts and became a homemaker at a young age. However, her passion for business and innovation never faded.
Her entrepreneurial spirit was ignited when she received training from Kudumbashree — a women empowerment programme implemented by the State Government. This training equipped her with the knowledge and skills to transform her ideas into a thriving business venture.
“Through the training, I got to know that jackfruits can be used to create a diverse range of value-added products like dried powder and pulp. With jackfruits easily available in abundance not only in my backyard but throughout the region, and with a dryer already at home, I saw an opportunity to establish a business,” she explains. “That’s when my perception of jackfruits changed.”
After experimenting with jackfruit products, Rani established her place in the local market with the support of local officials. Through her brand Eden Jackfruit Products, Rani leveraged white labelling to bring high-quality jackfruit-based products to the market. Currently, she is focused on building a website and establishing a strong presence on social media.
Additionally, Rani sources jackfruits from 20 neighbours, paying them a fair price for their produce while employing 10 workers to help process the fruits. Through value-addition, Rani earns a profit of Rs 8 lakh in a year.
Balancing home, work, and entrepreneurial success
Reflecting on her journey of becoming an entrepreneur from a homemaker, Rani says, “Since childhood, I’ve loved doing a lot of work. Here, my day starts at 5 am, and I manage all household responsibilities before devoting my day to overseeing the operations at the factory and working with Kudumbashree. The busy schedule keeps me motivated, and when I retire to bed at night, I sleep peacefully.”
Her unwavering dedication also inspires those around her, including her daughter, Ana. “I admire my mother’s work ethic and entrepreneurial drive. At 57, I don’t understand how she stays so motivated to do the work. Honestly, I marvel at her ability to multitask effortlessly. I have never seen her sit down for even 10 minutes at her unit,” she says.
“Her relentless commitment and passion for her business motivated me to rejoin the workforce after my maternity leave. From her, I’ve learned the importance of financial independence and the freedom to make my own decisions,” adds Ana, a software engineer at Deloitte.
Whenever she visits home, Rani prepares her favourite jackfruit chips, which Ana proudly shares with her colleagues in Bengaluru. “She follows a unique way of drying the jackfruits. Then, she cools them down and refries them. I have never tasted chips like hers anywhere else. That’s something I really miss in Bengaluru,” Ana shares.
In a society where women are often underestimated when it comes to running soaring businesses, Rani stands as a shining example of resilience and entrepreneurial excellence. Her journey from a homemaker to a successful entrepreneur is a testament to the power of determination, hard work, and creativity.
“I hope my story serves as an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs and demonstrates that with vision and perseverance, one can turn challenges into opportunities and achieve remarkable success,” remarks Rani.
Edited by Khushi Arora. All photos: Ana.
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