Tuesday 23rd January 2018 marks 225 years since breadfruit was introduced in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The breadfruit was first introduced to St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) in 1793 by Captain William Bligh to address food security.
According to Agricultural Officer Michael Gloster, as we celebrate this significant occasion in our nation’s history, the responsibility of every Vincentian is to ensure that:
- the breadfruit survives for future generation,
- the story of the breadfruit is documented and told,
- there is greater consumption and utilisation of breadfruit,
- there is conservation of our breadfruit genetic material for future references,
- the breadfruit brand is developed and,
- greater value addition is done to the fruit to extend shelf-life.
To commemorate this occasion, the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Transformation, Forestry, Fisheries Rural Transformation, Industry and Labour in collaboration with Massy’s Stores will be hosting a promotion and display on breadfruit at Massy’s Kingstown Branch on Tuesday 23rd January 2018 from 11:00 am.
The objectives of the activity are to provide information and create an awareness of the role of breadfruit in the Vincentian society, and to showcase the opportunities that can be created through value addition to breadfruit.
The Breadfruit is one of the commodities targeted under the Ministry’s Agri-Export Strategy.
