Organization
College of Micronesia-FSM
What inspired your love for breadfruit?
The tasty dish that mom used to prepare, almost taste like meat!! Also, its universal presence is a boon!
How have you been working or affiliated with the crop?
As part of a USAID project, earlier we distributed hundreds of tissue-cultured breadfruit plants of Ma’afala and Ulu Fiti varieties to displaced atoll communities in Yap to enhance climate resilience and meet food security needs.
What is your favorite breadfruit dish?
The spicy breadfruit curry that mom prepares with roasted coconut paste is yummy that still lingers in my mouth!
In your opinion do you think breadfruit is a worthy opponent in the battle to conquer world hunger?
Yes. Being rich in carbohydrates and a good source of antioxidants, calcium, carotenoids, copper, dietary fiber, energy, iron, magnesium, niacin, omega 3, omega 6, phosphorus, potassium, protein, thiamine, vitamin A and vitamin C, breadfruit is an ideal candidate for food and nutrition security program interventions.
Do you have a favorite breadfruit story?
I hail from Kerala State, India where breadfruit trees are not uncommon. However, they seldom found close dwellings or backyards. I remember a couple of legends my mom and other elders used to say about this. First one is: if you grow breadfruit trees in your backyard or anywhere close to your dwellings, then you will be broke and end up in debt! Second one: Breadfruit trees take up all the nutrients from the soil that you cannot grow other crops in the vicinity!! ?
What is one important message you would like people to know or learn about breadfruit?
Breadfruit and jackfruit – two gifted foods for humanity