On November 12, 1982, The Fiji Times published an article on how farmers of Nabukelevu in Kadavu were prepared to welcome the Christmas holidays with their ready-for-harvest dalo crops.
The article quoted Ivor Kaisami, the agricultural officer on the island, saying there was enough to supply 15 tonnes the same month, followed by 30 tonnes in December and 15 to 20 tonnes in January.
That year, there were farmers on Kadavu who sent five shipments of dalo, with an estimated total weight of about 50 tonnes, to the National Marketing Authority in Suva.
The report quoted Lewai Vakaloloma, the root crops coordinator for the Central Division, saying Nausori was expected to have an estimate of 179 hectares of dalo, which would be harvested during the fourth quarter.
This was expected to produce 2381 tonnes, however, it was prolonged due to an extended dry period which began in June.
He said this would lead to a decrease in the supply of dalo.
“The long dry spell resulted in the early maturity of the crop and the farmers had to harvest them earlier than anticipated,” Mr Vakaloloma said.
The report said the dry spell further affected the farmers’ planting program.
Mr Vakaloloma said the farmers preferred to plant dalo during the hot and wet period.
Nevertheless, he was confident they would achieve their target before the year’s end.
Data during the first six months of the year showed the division had planted more than 50 per cent of its annual target.
Dalo is an export crop for Fiji, said the article and up to September of that year, about 42 tonnes of dalo were exported.
