There are many fruits that are specially grown in selected places. These fruits often turn out to be a good business option for the farmers. Today, we will talk about a unique fruit that is grown in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh. It is locally known as Ground fruit or Gila. This fruit is known by different names in different places. It is also locally known as Kachriya. The botanical name of the fruit is Cucumis melo var. This fruit belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family, which is the same family as Pumpkins. It is rich in protein and minerals. Talking to Local 18, Ramgopal, a farmer from Chhatarpur, mentioned that he has been growing this fruit for many years now. He said, “In the local language, we call this fruit Gila, Kachriya or Ground fruit. It grows on its own in the sesame fields without being intentionally planted. We don’t need to plant it separately and it grows automatically.”
While talking in the interview, the farmer mentioned that this fruit can be grown only for four months. “Many farmers stay in their fields to work for a longer time. During that time they often feel hungry and consume this fruit. This fruit helps the body to energise and resume work,” he added. Ramgopal claimed that this fruit is very famous in the area and people from different districts visit to buy it.
There are various ways in which the fruit can be consumed. The farmer mentioned that it can only be eaten when it is ripe. The unripe fruit is popularly used to make pickles and the ripe fruit is cooked as a vegetable. It is cooked just like any other dish. You can prepare it along with potatoes or any other vegetable. Before cooking, remove the seeds and wash them nicely. After drying it, roast the fruit in a little oil and enjoy it with roti or paratha. This is a popular way this fruit is cooked. You can also try it at home.
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