Breadfruit Economic Returns Overview

When markets are certain and accessible, the IRR of 5 acres of well-managed breadfruit can come in at 7-9%, with $14,000 in annual net income at maturity.

On productive sites, the crop should break even after 15 years, and remain productive for at least 30 years.

At 30×30 ft spacing, breadfruit will yield up to 14,000 lbs per acre at maturity. At this spacing, producers can drive through rows most of the year to facilitate harvesting, pruning and other management practices.

Implementing agroforestry techniques allows for interim production of interplanted crops with shorter maturation periods than breadfruit, creating a diversified source of income which produces value in the years prior to breadfruit maturation.

In an agroforestry setting, overstory crops in addition to breadfruit can include betel nut, certain coconut varieties, avocado, common fruit trees, and more; mid-story crops can include banana, māmaki, cacao, and coffee; and understory crops can include taro, sweet potato, squash, herbs & greens, turmeric & ginger, while cover crops which fix nitrogen can include perennial peanut and clover.

Using diversified agroforestry practices, there are numerous opportunities to grow high(er) value crops or livestock within the breadfruit acreage and increase economic returns compared to cultivating breadfruit alone; an intensive alley cropping system, for instance, may provide 22% IRR over 30 years and push breakeven to Year 6.