Kollam: An engineer from Kottarakkara, has used his engineering skills and experience to build a footbridge, which comes in handy to pluck jackfruits from tall jackfruit trees.
Engineer Johny Chekkala built the footbridge connecting five sweet Thenvarikka variety of jackfruit trees in his courtyard. Through the bridge, one can easily walk up to 50 feet in height and women and children would now be able to help Johny during jackfruit season.
The footbridge reportedly connects five trees in his premises. Johny, who was an engineer with a government department, along with his friend Joppan, built the footbridge.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, Johny said that such situation had risen as his neighbour stopped helping his family in plucking the fruits and he had to come up with an alternate method.
Johny’s wife Lauli was the one who dropped the final jackfruit from the fifth jackfruit tree. She said that she had not even imagined plucking the fruits from such heights earlier.
Read: Jackfruit recipes are taking over Kerala tastebuds amid lockdown
The railings of the bridge are made of iron pipes and the hooks have been fixed to the branches of the jackfruit tree. A small tree-house structure has also been built as a resting place at the end of the bridge.
Johny, a nature lover, loves farming. He currently grows and nurtures different types of tree saplings and medicinal plants in his front courtyard. He is preparing to extend the bridge further, to reach all jackfruit trees.
Jackfruit, the largest tree-borne fruit that is known for its distinctive taste and aroma, is winning over Kerala hearts this COVID-19 outbreak season. The official state fruit is also dominating Kerala recipes.
