Continuing Role of Aroids in the Root Crop-Based Cropping System of Tonga

Abstract

For many generations, taro, together with other root crops, has been a major component of the traditional cropping system in Tonga and is its most important staple. The increasing problem of land shortage has resulted in a gradual change in the traditional cropping system, reducing the bush fallow to a minimum and replacing some root crops with vegetables. Susceptibility to drought has recently caused a marked decrease in taro production. In addition, the introduction of more attractive short-term cash crops has slowly caused taro to be replaced in their cropping system. This paper discusses the continuing important roles of taro either in a root crop based multiple cropping system or as a possible cash monocrop.