The Fiji Times of November 2, 1984, highlighted the demand for 80 tonnes of dalo to supply markets overseas for the months of November and December.
This was reported to newspaper by Sowane Puamau of the national marketing authority (NMA). The NMA, as it was commonly known then, was disappointed with the contracted farmers for not providing the agreed supply of dalo.
The article said farmers had only supplied 10 out of the 100 tonnes required of them. The authority had wanted to have a variety in tausala and Samoa for its export market.
“National marketing authority has only been receiving 2.8 tons of dalo per week from farmers with a mixture of varieties,” The Fiji Times reported.
Farmers were urged by Mr Puamau to quicken their rate of planting the tausala and Samoa varieties and to use only the highest level of planting materials.
He encouraged the farmers to use fertiliser in the next harvest to increase their dalo production in smaller plots of land.
According to the article, Mr Puamau had said there were a lot of farmers planting dalo without knowing the proper requirements from the market.
He said the national marketing authority should not be seen as a dumping ground for below par produce and it was further developing its export market while also stressing quality.
He said the authority wished to start exporting 250 tonnes of dalo the following year while also exploring the opportunity of partnering with the ministry of agriculture in having more farmers plant for the market.
The article said the NMA was planning to partner with farmers from the Northern and Eastern divisions to plant dalo for the market.
