The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has distributed 1.5 million taro shoots to farmers and families as an emergency measure in case of a COVID-19 outbreak. 

Half a million taro shoots were distributed under the Government’s first COVID-19 stimulus package in 2020. 

Under the second stimulus package a million taro shoots are currently being distributed to farms and families on Savai’i and Upolu. 

“Under the second stimulus package, we are now distributing a million – 500,000 for our Savai’i people, not just farmers, families and 500,000 for Upolu families,” said Tilafono David Hunter, the M.A.F. Chief Executive Officer.

Taro shoot distribution under the second stimulus package is a programme in collaboration between the M.A.F. and its key partners. It seeks to revitalize the coconut, cocoa, taro and vegetable industries to assist those who have been made unemployed by COVID-19 to ensure national food security.

The distribution of the taro shoots are based on data from the National Agriculture Census provided by the M.A.F. that estimates the number of families in each village per traditional constituency.

“That’s how we sort of distributed the taro, in proportion to the number of families in a village," Tilafono said. 

"We were looking at the worst case scenario: if there were a positive case in the community most likely the response would be to lockdown the whole country and [there would be] restrictions, [orders to] stay in your house, you may not be able to go to the shops to buy food."

“We wanted to distribute to all villages especially villages that are not taro growing villages.

"There are regions in Samoa and villages who are abundant with taro and these are the ones we de-prioritised. 

“We distributed to those villages that do grow taro but not that much…at least they have food they are growing to rely on.”

The large scale taro distribution is one of several ongoing efforts by the M.A.F. in collaboration with other agencies and is aimed at ensuring food security and nutrition.

“It’s not just taro,” added Tilafono.

Under the first stimulus, M.A.F. provided seeds for short term crops like Chinese cabbage and tomatoes to families.

“Pretty much whoever was interested would come to us for the vegetables and fruit seeds and register their names and collect them free of charge…from our Nu’u Research Station or the Salelologa Main Office,” Tilafono said.

“The seeds are finished but we may be looking at repeating it if this lockdown continues for a long time depending on the future funding we will receive.”

At the Nu’u Research Station the M.A.F. is working on multiplying open-pollinated fruits and vegetables. Open-pollinated fruits and vegetables contain seeds, for example, tomatoes, cucumbers, peas and eggplant which can be planted to produce more fruits and vegetables.

Tilafono said some hybrid seeds are brought into Samoa but cannot be planted to produce a new plant.

“Some hybrid seeds…when they are harvested there are many seeds in there but they will not grow again,” he said.

These types of seeds force consumers to purchase new seeds.

“You can’t regrow the seeds. You still have to buy the seeds. We are stocking up on open-pollinated seeds and perhaps distribute if there is any lockdown and in response to natural disasters like a cyclone,” said Tilafono.

“Our response will be to supply planting materials to restart because it will take a while to get agricultural production. It’s not just taro…it is always good to plan for the worst case scenario.”

The M.A.F. is also working with local taro farmers to ensure a stable supply to satisfy local and overseas markets at a selling price that will make customers happy.

Stabilising the price will hopefully push local consumers to choose taro over imported rice.

They want to lower the cost of taro to have locals choose taro over rice.

“Our money is leaking out of the country. Why not spend it in [the] country?,” added Tilafono.