Taro Trade and Cost of Production in Selected Areas of the American Affiliated Pacific

Date
1993-01
Authors
Tipton, Trace V.
Brown, John W.
Leung, PingSun
Contributor
Advisor
Department
Instructor
Depositor
Speaker
Researcher
Consultant
Interviewer
Annotator
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Hawaii
Volume
Number/Issue
Starting Page
Ending Page
Alternative Title
Abstract
Much of the taro (Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum) that is produced in the Pacific is not traded in the market, but rather it is used for other non-market purposes. Taro is used for home consumption, for social and cultural purposes, and it is sold in the market for income. This article reports general economic factors which influence taro production in American Samoa, Pohnpei, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Hawai'i. The rapid rural assessments provide a look at taro on islands that are in many different stages of economic development and of cultural intrusion. Generally, as an island developed economically and cultural intrusion increased, taro became less important in the diet and imported starches such as rice became more important. Farmers' motivations for growing taro change from sociocultural and subsistence to commercial, and with this change the use of mechanical equipment and fertilizers increased. Taro remains a viable and important crop in all of the areas studied with the possible exception of Guam.
Description
Keywords
American Samoa, Colocasia esculenta, economic analysis, Guam, Hawaii, Northern Mariana Islands, Pohnpei, production costs, taro
Citation
Tipton TV, Brown JW, Leung PS. 1993. Taro trade and cost of production in selected areas of the American affiliated Pacific. In: Ferentinos L, editor. Proceedings of the Sustainable Taro Culture for the Pacific Conference. Sustainable Taro Culture for the Pacific Conference; 1992 Sept 24-25; Honolulu, Hawaii. Honolulu (HI): University of Hawaii. p. 112-124.
Extent
13 pages
Format
Geographic Location
Time Period
Related To
Table of Contents
Rights
Rights Holder
University of Hawaii
Local Contexts
Email libraryada-l@lists.hawaii.edu if you need this content in ADA-compliant format.