The papaya is a small, sparsely branched tree, usually with a single stem growing from 5 to 10 m (16 to 33 ft) tall, with spirally arranged leaves confined to the top of the trunk. The lower trunk is conspicuously scarred where leaves and fruit were borne. The leaves are large, 50-70 cm (20-28 in) in diameter, deeply palmately lobed, with seven lobes. All plant parts contain latex in articulated laticifers.
BOTANICAL NAME: Carica papaya
ORIGIN : South Mexico and Costa Rica.
TOTAL AREA IN INDIA: 149000 Ha
TOTAL PRODUCTION IN INDIA: 5744000 MT
MAJOR PRODUCING STATES/DISTRICTS IN INDIA :
- Andhara Pradesh (Cuddapah, Medak, Kurnool, Rangareddy)
- Gujarat (Kheda, Ahmedabad, Jamnagar) and Orissa
- Maharashtra (Sangli, Satara, Pune, Nasik, Sholapur, Nagpur, Amravati)
- Karnataka (Shimoga, Chitradurga, Mysore, Belgaum, Hassan)
- Madhya Pradesh (Dhar, Khandwa, Bilaspur, Ratlam, Guna)
- West Bengal (North 24 - Paraganas, Hoogly)
- Assam (Nagaon, Darrang, Karbi Anglong)
Commercial Varieties: -: Honey Dew, Coorg Honey Dew, Washington, Pusa Delicious, Pusa Majesty, Pusa Dwarf, Pusa Giant Co. 1 to Co. 7, Surya, Pusa Delicious, Pusa Nanha, Pink Flesh Sweet, Pant 1 Sunrise Solo, Taiwan etc.
STORAGE CONDITIONS-
Temperature:10o - 13OC
Relative Humidity:85-90%
Storage: - 1-3 weeks
Freezing point: - -2 to -1OC
Peak Harvesting Season:-
1. Andhra Pradesh: - All around Year
2. Assam: - All around Year
3. Maharashtra: - All around Year
4. West Bengal: - All around Year
Export of 2022-23: - 9441 MT
Major Destination: - Nepal, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Baharain