DA, ATI push breadfruit production in Siquijor

By Rizalie A. Calibo

SIQUIJOR, Nov 23 (PIA) —The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) in Region 7 are pushing for the production of breadfruit in the island as substitute to rice to increase Siquijor province’s food staple sufficiency level. 

A training course on breadfruit production with emphasis on asexual propagation was held recently at the Provincial Agriculturist Office Training Hall in Larena, Siquijor in support to the Food Staple Sufficiency Program (FSSP) of the government. 

It was attended by 30 participants composed of agricultural extension workers and farmers leaders. 

The training focused more on the propagation of the tree. 

As a seedless specie, propagation has to be done through asexual methods such as grafting, budding and layering. One has to be skillful and needs different approaches to get higher percentage of survival, says resource person Domingo Opanda as he demonstrated the “how to’s” of the different methods. 

Breadfruit are indigenous trees in the island that bear fruits widely utilized as food substitute. 

The province has identified breadfruit, locally known as “Kolo” or “polo”, in San Juan town as an alternate staple food as practiced by their ancestors. 

It grows well in the island and can be found in all of its six municipalities based on the inventory of breadfruits trees, both bearing and non-bearing, conducted by the Provincial Agricultural Technology Coordinating Office (PATCO) and the office of the provincial agriculturist here. 

Massive plantation is further encouraged to alleviate hunger and provide long-term food security. Moreover, developing the breadfruit industry mitigates the effects of climate change and and provide livelihood to farmers, PATCO said. (rmn/RAC/PIA-Siquijor)