TUBER crops are an important food source for the Pacific region, says University of the South Pacific vice-chancellor Professor Rajesh Chandra.
While opening the first ever symposium on the International Society for Tropical Root Crops Pacific branch in Nadi, he said tuber crops such as cassava and sweet potatoes had been a staple in the regional countries’ menu.
“Root and tuber crops in particular, which is a very important food source, with consumption rates exceeding 200kg per person per year in 10 countries,” he said.
“There is no other region in the world that has consumption rates of tuber crops at this level.”
