BREADFRUIT IN SAMOA: THE PAST, SOME RECENT STUDIES, CURRENT ACTIVITIES AND FUTURE POTENTIAL

Breadfruit, Artocarpus altilis, is a priority export crop for Samoa and an important staple crop. It is currently the main crop exported from the High Temperature Forced Air (HTFA) facility at the Atele Horticultural Centre of the Samoa Ministry of Agriculture. Samoa’s breadfruit exports increased 64% from 2005 to 2007. During this period, 71.2 t were exported to the New Zealand market. The agricultural census in 2005 recorded 34 holdings growing breadfruit for export only, 469 holdings for both sale and consumption, and 14,680 holdings for home consumption only. This paper reviews past work on breadfruit, recent studies, current activities and future potential of the breadfruit industry in Samoa.