Agroforestry Root Crops

T

S

Cropping assets within the Roviana vonavona region vary from place to place, depending on farmers and family interest and constraints of farming different crops. Table 2 of annex 2 – Crops PRG Data details a variety of crops/cultivars currently planted by the families within the region. Information collected indicates a low diversity of crop varieties across villages.

Figure 128 Typical sweet potato garden in Roviana

SWEET POTATO (IPOMOEA BATATAS)

Sweet potato is one of the main staple root crops that is widely planted in many of the villages and families across the lagoon areas and is consumed daily, most year round. Sweet potato is a productive and a resilient crop, growing in a wide range of soil type and condition. It is planted in mounds, which is formed with a hoe.

Cuttings and planting method varies considerably from villages to village and even farmers as well. There is a very high turnover of cuttings with farmers (women in particular) actively sharing, collecting new varieties and discarding old ones that could not produce higher yield. Fast and high-yielding three to four-month varieties of sweet potato are very popular but are usually complemented with some slower-maturing and longer lasting varieties.

POTATOVARIETY were preferred due to various reasons such as good growth and high yield during dry weather, performance in different weather conditions, shorter period to production or last longer in gardens .

Potato variety differs from place to place and sharing of the cuttings between farmers is common.

Commonly planted variety of potato were Bakua, Bilua, 3 month, Qula, Amelia, Hako boni, Barasipo, Maruana, Opele and Tupele. Opele can performed well in both wet and dry session, Qula variety last for longer period of time without going bad while Maruana grows well on sandy soil.

Chapter 7

Building social and ecological resilience to climate change in Roviana, Solomon Islands

As elsewhere in the Solomon Islands challenges remain in stocking of different potato varieties. Common varieties lost in from farmers in Roviana Vonavona region includes Paradise, Sugar, Jimei, Koripopu, Hakoboni, Nibi, Kausumae, Lebiasi and Boboe. Orange flesh sweet potato is not commonly grown even though it has high nutritional content.

POTATOPRODUCTION - Current production of sweet potato is declining. Good harvest of sweet potato and other staple crop were usually around September to February, whilst from April to July farmers usually experience low yield production resulting in food shortage (hunger periods). Baraulu women have expressed that hunger periods can sometimes extend to December. This may be an indication of changes in season and weather events with climate change.

Threats to production includes pest and disease attacks, narrow diversity of sweet potato varieties, low labour input, other social community obligations and the constantly unpredictable weather pattern . In Buni, Baraulu and Munda villages, common pest are leaf folder, where caterpillars do the damage causing farmers challenges to control.

In some areas, cassava and karavera are a popular choice than sweet potato.

CASSAVA (MANIHOT ESCULENTA)

Cassava has become widely planted in Roviana, Vonavona and Munda area which slowly replaces sweet potato and other important staple crops. This crop is also reported by a Nusa Hope informer that after the tsunami, it has become sweet, soft and grows well. This has also contributed to its increase status in the garden.

Cassava has been classified as a drought tolerance crop which easily adapted to any soil and weather condition. Cassava is also used to extend cropping period after one or two crops of sweet potato or in longer fallow areas as the third crop after taro, yam or sweet potato.

Figure 129 Mature cassava plants

CASSAVAVARIETY - Six common varieties observed grown in most villages includes Green top, Turukai, one boil, Kari, Rice cassava and under pant. Cassava stores well in the ground, for longer periods, than most

Chapter 7 Horticulture & agroforestry vulnerability assessment

CASSAVAPRODUCTION - Consumption of cassava increases and one of the recipe includes local pudding were consumed once a week by families. Cassava pudding is for sale in almost all rural markets throughout the year.

TARO (COLOCASIA ESCULENTA)

Traditionally, taro (colocasia esculenta) was the main staple, which eventually was replaced by sweet potato and cassava following a prolonged decline in taro yields caused by pest and disease problems (McKinnon 1973) as well as soil nutrient depletion. In some parts of Roviana taro is categorized as rare in most gardens, and a few farmers are planting taro in a relatively small quantity. With the difficulty of tending taro in gardens, it has gone unnoticed and slowly disappearing.

TAROVARIETY

In Vonavona some of the farmers continue to maintain local taro varieties and during the consultation have identified 17 different varieties of taro. In Buni alone, a woman farmer maintained local variety such as Taloluri, Qoliti, Kusuleke, Oreqo, Ene (maguge), Ruta, Malaita, Isabel, Rennell, Reef islands, Quale and Lauru.

THREATS

PEST AND DISEASES

Taro beetles and taro mite are commonly found in most of the taro gardens that were visited. Adult beetles damage the taro plants by burrowing into the underground part of their host. Plants remain alive, but grow poorly. Holes bored in the corms of taro make them unfit for market and where damage is considerable they are not even fit for home use.

LACKING SKILLS

Most farmers lack knowledge of planting and tending for taro. Farmers continue to practice traditional method of taro planting in many farming system, reducing productivity due to shortening fallow periods.

Specialized knowledge to grow and tended for taro is needed.

KONGKONG TARO (XANTHOSOMA)

Xanthosoma (Kong Kong taro) is now becoming an important staple crop in some areas as colocasia taro is now too difficult to grow. Kongkong taro is less affect by taro beetle (although it is susceptible) and is not affected by same viruses that affect Colocasia. Kongkong can be grown easily in the garden or beside homes.

Xanthosoma is a crop that supports families during food shortage or hunger periods. In Buni Xanthosoma is slowly replacing sweet potato and cassava to some extent. Farmers around Vonavona claimed that kongkong taro grows well in any condition on the islands.

BANANA.

Banana is typically mixed in gardens, either planted within root crop plots or on plot boundaries depending on the system practiced. Banana was widely planted around villages and sometimes in coconut plantations.

This crop is commonly harvested during hunger period and for selling at markets. During a planting exercise activity, it was found that most of the farmers are planting fewer bananas.

BANANAVARIETIES

In Baraulu there is a total of 31 local varieties grown by different farmers on different sites compared to some areas of Munda and Vonavona. Some of the banana varieties have high c beta- caroteniod especially the hakuaturu or vuaturu (Fei), although farmers are not aware of the nutritional content of such varieties.

Chapter 7

Building social and ecological resilience to climate change in Roviana, Solomon Islands THREATS

The traditional belief is that this type of banana is not encouraged to be eaten. There is a wide spread of disease such as banana rash on many banana observe. The ability not to plant banana is a threat itself that needs refocusing. Banana can sometimes substitute other sources of food from the garden, therefore it is important.

YAM (DIOSCOREA SPECIES) AND PANA

Pana and yam used to be the main staple diet in the areas. In recent times they are not planted as much as they used to be. The reason for such decline is from the different weather patterns and extreme weather that can disrupt their growth. The ability of farmers or families to grow yam or pana as other food sources for home uses is another factor to consider. The skills and knowledge slowly erodes as many external factors such as weather pattern interfered, the decline of quality of soil.

Its introduction would encourage the children to eat it and include in their diet. These root crops would increase production which women and men could choose from to prepare for their children.

KAKAKE/SWAMP TARO (CYRTOSPERMA CHAMISSONIS)

In Munda one of the farmers said that in olden days the old people regard Kakake or Kakama as a drought/windy season food or known as genani- peza. There are only two varieties which are commonly grown by farmers. However, it was mentioned that people do not consume them. It is important that Kakake should now be promoted for its nutritional and seasonal values for drought and climate change.

V

Although voruku was one of the major staple crop during times of food storage, it was found that only Buni maintain the crop. Roviana lagoon and Munda villages are still planting them, but in small quantity. It is important to reintroduce the plant in the gardens and encourage people to plant them and include them in their diet.