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Members of Samoa Farmers Association (SFA) at a Dragon Fruit Training funded by the FO4ACP Programme IMAGE: SFA
Wednesday 04
Native to Mexico, Central America and South America, the pitaya also known as dragon fruit, is a perennial climbing cactus of the genus Hylocereus.
Pacific Island Farmers Organisation Network Chairman and President of Samoa Farmers Association, Afamasaga Toleafoa said it is considered to be a promising remunerative crop.
“It’s distributed all over the world, in tropical and subtropical regions and grown commercially in Israel, Vietnam, Nicaragua, Australia, United States of America and Taiwan.”
“It has incredible nutritive properties and once planted, can grow for more than 15 years and one hectare could accommodate about 800 dragon fruit plants,” he said.
A refresher training covering propagation, pruning and maintenance was conducted by Ms. Faalelei Tunupopo, Senior Horticulturist at the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries (Crops Division), for growers of the Samoa Farmers Association.
The training was funded by the Farmers’ Organizations for Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (FO4ACP) Programme, a joint partnership between the European Union, Africa Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) and Pacific Island Farmers Organisation Network (PIFON).