SUVA:The Ministry of Agriculture’s Acting Principal Economic Planning Officer, Vio Veretawatini, revealed that 70 per cent of this dalo originated from Bua and Cakaudrove provinces.
Speaking during a workshop at Nasolo, Bua, Mr Veretawatini said most consumers of dalo overseas were Pacific Islanders living in major dalo-buying countries.
Mr Veretawatini said the four major dalo-buying countries were New Zealand, Australia, USA and Hawaii.
“Majority of dalo buyers in these countries are Samoan and Tongans who prefer Fijian taro over their own,” he said.
“These islanders prefer Fijian taro because of its taste and pricing has not changed.
“The New Zealand market used to belong to Samoa, but it has changed because of the taro blight that affected Samoan taro a few years back and now Fijian taro is taking over this market.”
Mr Veretawatini said the Samoan Government was investing more money into its million-dollar dalo industry.
“A total of 22 countries import Fiji taro and the rate of exports has continued to fluctuate over the past years,” he said.
“In 2013 and 2014 the country experienced a drop in taro farmers, while Bua produced a total of 5000 to 10,000 tonnes of dalo.
“In 2014 revenue earned from the export of the commodity totalled $22m.
“It raked in $23m in 2013.
“This was attributed to the market price of dalo, which sustained the revenue earned even when the number of farmers decreased.
“Therefore we are urging farmers to plant more taro because it has a potential market.”
Mr Veretawatini revealed that there were 19 registered dalo middlemen in the country.
