Samoa’s Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) has signed a new partnership with the Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access Plus (PHAMA Plus) Program to address the reduction in supply of taro in the island nation.
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt and PHAMA Plus signed a memorandum of understanding that will see more than 500,000 high-quality taro planting material known as tiapula distributed to 100 target commercial growers who supply exporters.
“This new partnership will support MAF’s efforts to assist Samoa’s taro growers and businesses address the shortage of taro with an immediate solution of tiapula distribution. Our continued partnership with Australia and New Zealand’s PHAMA Plus Program to establish more commercial nurseries, not just for taro but other root crops too, provides a long-term and more sustainable solution,” Mr Schmidt said in a statement.
PHAMA Plus Country Manager – Samoa Kuinimeri Finau said four nurseries were established, with two located on MAF stations and two with private farmer groups.
“There is strong demand for their planting materials, but more is needed to address the shortage of taro at an industry level,” Ms Finau said.
PHAMA Plus is supported by the Australian and New Zealand governments, and has been working with MAF since 2011 to grow Samoa’s export industry. In 2023, MAF and PHAMA Plus partnered to establish commercial nurseries to make improved taro planting material more readily available to farmers.
It is expected that after a year, the target commercial growers and nurseries will have enough stock to supply themselves as well as local markets and exporters in Samoa, says PHAMA Plus.
According to PHAMA Plus, Samoa has witnessed a decline in land used for taro cultivation over the past decade, despite an increase in the number of taro farmers.
