Sustainable Taro Culture: Fiji Situation

Abstract

Taro (Colocasia esculenta) is known to the Fijians by ten different names and is cultivated by people who lived in physically isolated communities for centuries. To the indigenous people, taro is important in their culture. Taro is the most common aroid cultivated by farmers. The demand for taro, especially at the festive Christmas period, appears to be inelastic, as consumers purchase taro regardless of the high prices. Apart from the corm, taro leaves of certain varieties are particularly esteemed as a green vegetable. With the increase in demand for food as a result of population pressure, the practice of shifting cultivation is giving way to intensive taro culture.