In India, it is cultivated around Kolkatta (the former Calcutta) grows wild in Central and Western India. It is grown as a small fruit crop only in Sindh province. Some enterprising fruit growers have also planted it in their fruit orchards in the suburbs of Karachi. However, the custard fruit crop grown in Karachi fruiting season is attacked by mealy-bugs which requires plant protection measures to grow.
Custard apple is propagated from the seed and also asexually by budding, grafting and inarching. The tree blooms twice a year. The March blooms fruit in July and the July blooms fruit in December. The tree is erect and grows to a height of 5 meters. The leaves are elongated and glamorous. The fruit is round, greenish from the outside and is tubercled. On ripening, the outer skin of the fruit softens and breaks open on minor pressure. The edible matter is creamy white, sweet, pulpy and is scooped from the fruit to eat. Fruits plucked green ripen within a week or so, if kept wrapped in paper in the store. The seeds of the fruit are black, shiny and bitter in taste. The seeds are inedible and used only medicinally in eastern medicine for a variety of ailments. J.F. Dastur - a renowned Indian herbalist - says "that an infusion of the leaves made with salt is applied to boils, ulcers, maggot-infested sores and malignant tumours. Persons having hysterical and fainting fits are made to inhale the crushed leaves or their juice; a paste of the leaves is locally applied to kill head lice and extract guinea-worms. The bark is given in diarrhea and is a tonic. A paste of the seeds is used for extracting guinea-worms, killing head lice and is also used as a abortifacient. The root is drastic purgative, is given in acute case of dysentery, melancholia and in spinal disorders."
Custard apple has a number of food nutrients that keep us in healthy condition. The custard apple has a zero level of cholesterol, high nutritive value and low in saturated fat. It has adequate protein and carbohydrates. Vitamin C in the fruit resists brittleness of bones. Vitamin A is good for eyes. Potassium can fight lethargies and muscle weakness. Magnesium is anti-arthritis and copper works against constipation. Crude protein helps, only in digestion, but also taken good care of constipation.
Pakistan's custard apple production is limited only to Sindh. Custard apple being a fruit of multiple benefits has good potential as a fruit crop. The fruit is served as a dessert, the creamy pulp makes a refreshing drink popularly termed as milk shake and is also used to make ice creams. The wood of the tree is used to make small handles of agricultural tools and yokes for the oxen in the rural areas.
Further horticultural efforts are needed to kick up the production in Pakistan. New varieties need to be imported or developed locally that are adaptable, not only in Sindh climate, but can also be grown in areas other than Sindh. Pakistan is producing many exotic fruits like banana, litchi, strawberry etc, at commercial scale that were not known earlier. Pakistan will be a proud producer of custard apple, if efforts are made and the hurdles in the way of large cultivation are removed by the authorities concerned to make the custard apple also a commercial crop of Pakistan.