Boosting breadfruit tree growth for food purposes

Havana, Sep 27 (ACN) Multiplying plantations of Artocarpus species, especially the breadfruit tree, is a goal in Cuba, especially in the Isle of Youth, where there is a development program that includes the planting of 100 hectares.

The project, which relies on funds exceeding 11,300,000 pesos, is handled by the Tropical Fruit Growing Research Institute (IIFT).

Also known as breadfruit, poor man's bread and marzipan tree, among other names, this plant is one of the species of the Artocarpus genus, widely spread throughout the province of Pinar del Río but scarce in the rest of the country, according to the project "Extension of Artocarpus species in Cuba, as a contribution to local development and food sovereignty", led by Marlene García Collado, from the Technological Dissemination Group (GDT) of the Isle of Youth.

“We use the fruit of local plants to study industrial processes and the quality of the product resulting from turning fruit into flour likely to become a fine staple for human and animal consumption,” she said.

These species are in high demand around the world because of their high nutritional value, pleasant flavor and color, as well as sources of starch and proteins.

The project will contribute to local development and food sovereignty, as it includes the training of producers in various propagation techniques and the evaluation of the growth of seedlings as a result of the techniques applied.

Since Cuba has never undertaken the large-scale growth of breadfruit, the current propagation works are based on research carried out by the GDT from 2016 to 2020.