The webinar on ‘The Prospects for Expanding Sapodilla Production and Markets – Opportunities and Challenges’ on 14 April 2026, organized by the International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet).
The stream had a peak of 84 viewers from a total of 14 countries.
TFNet CEO Mr. Muhamed Salim bin Mohd Ali delivered the welcome remarks, providing a brief overview of the fruit. Mr. Yacob Ahmad was the moderator and emcee of the webinar.
Sapodilla, also known as Sapota and Chiku (Manilkara zapota L) is a minor tropical fruit that is gaining popularity and has strong potential for further development. The fruit is popular in Mexico, Brazil and across Asia and Southeast Asian countries. India is the largest producer and exporter of the fruit, followed by other exporters including Brazil, Mexico, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam.
The presentations discussed the status of sapodilla in their respective countries, including popular varieties, production and export figures, pest and diseases, and growth opportunities.
The presentations are as follows:
- The Status of Sapodilla Production and Market Expansion in India
Dr. Yatin Tandel, Professor, Fruit Science Department, ASPEE College of Horticulture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujerat, INDIA - Developing Sapodilla Production and Market Expansion in Indonesia
Prof. Dr. Darda Efendi, Center for Tropical Horticultural Studies, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia - Production and challenges in Sapodilla production and market expansion in Bangladesh
Dr. Most. Marufa Khatun, Senior Scientific Officer, Pomology Division, Horticulture Research Center, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur - Sapodilla Production and Market Expansion – the Vietnam Experience
Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Thoa, Deputy Head of Plant Protection Div., Southern Horticulture Research Institute (SOFRI), Tien Giang, Vietnam
Afterwards, a panel discussion was led by Mr. Yacob Ahmad with all the presenters. They agreed that for the sapodilla industry to move forward, there is a need to invest in varietal improvement, post-harvest management, value-added products, and increasing market access through better branding and marketing.
If you missed the webinar, the presentations are currently available in TFNet’s Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKxiDl17HlWvuD6zA_OSbAaEM9J5nr2Bh
