Bengaluru Airport plans to revive Devanahalli chakota Trees

The Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) will plant 500 Devanahalli Pomelo trees as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Programme "Namma Ooru". The plantation drive is also part of the 50th anniversary of World Earth Day.
Devanahalli pomelo, a citrus variety, is almost on the brink of extinction.
Devanahalli Pomelo has a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. It is grown in Devanahalli taluk, Banglore (Karnataka) and is popularly known as chakota.
The Devanahalli pomelo has a unique, sweet taste, unlike other local varieties which have a bitter taste.
The establishment of the Kempegowda International Airport brought in different livelihood opportunities for people to change their practices and focus shifted away from its cultivation. The absence of an organised market for the fruit was another factor behind decline in the plantation of the variety.
Pomelo is a parent of the grapefruit and is also known by its scientific name Citrus Maxima. The fruit is rich in Vitamin C.
While each pomelo tree grows 24 inches per season, it can live from 50-150 years and reach a height of 25 feet.
Each tree annually yields an average of 300 to 400 fruit. Each fruit, typically, weighs 2 to 2.5 kg and is identified by distinctive pink or red juicy carpels.