As Samoa enters cyclone season, many farmers are faced with growing concerns about the impact of natural disasters and even just heavy rain and flooding upon their crop yields. 

Agriculture is vital to food security and the economy of the country, but is also highly vulnerable to unfavourable weather.

The Samoa Agriculture Census Report 2019 has revealed that 94 per cent of Samoan households were still engaged in agriculture either in planting crops or raising livestock or engaging in fishing.

The nation’s rural population, which composes 80 per cent of the nation’s total, are largely dependent on agriculture for their livelihood, the figures show. 

On a rainy Wednesday morning, a father-of six-with his three children in tow were planting a variety of vegetable seeds to try and take advantage of some rainfall after the impacts of very dry weather conditions experienced by the country.

Local farmer Napoleone Mamea told the Samoa Observer that before the rainy season, their land had experienced problems where it was difficult to grow some of their crops because of the dry conditions.  

Mr Mamea said that while it is a relief that Samoa has received some rain lately after an unusually long dryspell, it also brings worries about the potentially damaging side effects of heavy falls. 

“We depend on our plantation for food supplies and also we earn a living from selling our vegetables and crops at local markets,” he said.

The 47-year-old from Tapatapao said that the money he gets from selling his agricultural produce is used to send his children to school.

“I am praying our country does not experience any cyclones because that would affect our plantation and it would impact our way of earning income,” Mr Mamea said. 

He has been a farmer for over ten years and he believes that while the job comes with many obstacles, harvesting one’s crops is not only rewarding but provides families with guaranteed sources of food.

“On other days when we do not have much, we have our plantation that can support our daily and weekly needs in terms of food,” he said. 

According to the tropical cyclone outlook for November 2021 to April 2022 states that 0-1 tropical cyclones are likely to pass the 400 kilometre radius of Samoa. 

However, the Meteorology Division issued a heavy rain advisory on Wednesday morning stating that a trough of low pressure continues to remain within the vicinity of the islands providing wet and unstable weather conditions for Samoa. 

The aforementioned system is expected to provide increased heavy rainfall activities with associated gusty winds in rain remains in the forecast into Thursday before shifting southwestward of Samoa by Friday. 

The potential impacts include: heavy downpour with poor visibility, foggy and slippery roads over mountain passes and ranges, pooling near roadsides and waterways.