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Surviving the blight: socio-economic consequences of taro leaf blight (TLB) disease in Samoa

Journal of South Pacific Agriculture Vol. 10 No. 1 & 2, pp 1-9.

V Naidu
Professor, Development Studies
Victoria University
Wellington
New Zealand

M Umar
Director IRETA
USP
Alafua Campus
Samoa

Abstract

Samoa’s staple food taro has disappeared from family meals, ceremonial functions and markets. How can a country cope with a debacle of this magnitude? The Samoan experience has lessons for other small developing island states, although this study was conducted some years back.
A Survey was carried out during 1999 to ascertain the socio-economic impact of the 1993 taro leaf blight disease on the people of Samoa. Using a questionnaire farmers were interviewed in randomly selected village districts in both Upolu and Savaii. Government officials in departments of agriculture, customs, finance and planning as well as commercial farmers, representatives of inter-government organisations and representatives of business were also interviewed.

The devastation of taro crop, a basic staple food had serious consequences for the economy of Samoa, the life of the people, their dietary habits and ceremonial functions. However, because of the country’s diverse primary production base including strength inherent in small holder agriculture, various other opportunities for alternative sources of income, government measures and the people’s resilience and adaptability helped Samoans cope. A potentially life threatening pestilence was out-maneuvered by these factors. Alternative starchy crops normally grown along with taro for food security and animal feed, such as, taamu Alocasia macrorrhiza, taro palagi Xanthosoma sagittifolium, yams Dioscoria alata, breadfruit Artocarpus altilis and bananas Musa spp became more prominent food sources in cultural exchanges and for income. The Samoan experience of successfully meeting the loss of a major food staple provides useful lessons for small island states and developing countries.



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DIVA-GIS	Wednesday, January 04, 2006 Posted 4:10 PM by Luigi Surviving the blight: socio-economic consequences of taro leaf blight (TLB) disease in Samoa Journal of South Pacific Agriculture Vol. 10 No. 1 & 2, pp 1-9. V Naidu Professor, Development Studies Victoria University Wellington New Zealand M Umar Director IRETA USP Alafua Campus Samoa Abstract Samoa’s staple food taro has disappeared from family meals, ceremonial functions and markets. How can a country cope with a debacle of this magnitude? The Samoan experience has lessons for other small developing island states, although this study was conducted some years back. A Survey was carried out during 1999 to ascertain the socio-economic impact of the 1993 taro leaf blight disease on the people of Samoa. Using a questionnaire farmers were interviewed in randomly selected village districts in both Upolu and Savaii. Government officials in departments of agriculture, customs, finance and planning as well as commercial farmers, representatives of inter-government organisations and representatives of business were also interviewed. The devastation of taro crop, a basic staple food had serious consequences for the economy of Samoa, the life of the people, their dietary habits and ceremonial functions. However, because of the country’s diverse primary production base including strength inherent in small holder agriculture, various other opportunities for alternative sources of income, government measures and the people’s resilience and adaptability helped Samoans cope. A potentially life threatening pestilence was out-maneuvered by these factors. Alternative starchy crops normally grown along with taro for food security and animal feed, such as, taamu Alocasia macrorrhiza, taro palagi Xanthosoma sagittifolium, yams Dioscoria alata, breadfruit Artocarpus altilis and bananas Musa spp became more prominent food sources in cultural exchanges and for income. The Samoan experience of successfully meeting the loss of a major food staple provides useful lessons for small island states and developing countries. * Comments: Post a Comment	Archive October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 RSS Feed Alternative feed Contact Tevita Something new: Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives. 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