Five years ago, farmers started noticing a discolouration on the leaves and the formation of large brown lesions. The lesions get larger over days, killing the taro plant. The solution? Planting another taro root that is free from the illness.
Elderly Huvadhoo Atoll (Gaafu Alifu and Gaafu Dhaalu atolls) residents still remember the time during World War II when they sailed out in their boats in search of taro. There was a serious food shortage at the time, which the Maldivians referred to as “Bodu Thadhu,” over the entire nation. People sacrificed their gold and other valuables for taro because of the extreme scarcity.
Gaafu Dhaalu atoll Vaadhoo and Gadhdhoo, which the residents of Gan used for farming, were the two islands that benefited the most from growing taro. Fuvahmulah and Addu also engaged in extensive taro farming, growing the nutrient-rich crop for both commercial and domestic purposes.
But five years ago, farmers started noticing the discolouration of the leaves with the formation of large brown lesions. The lesions get larger over days, killing the taro plant.
The taro plant’s disease has reached different corners of the island nation, with farmers subdued over finding a solution. Taro is one of the most sought root vegetables in the Maldives, with people growing it in their home gardens as well.
Vaadhoo farmer Mohamed Ibrahim expressed his worries, saying, “to be honest, the vast island of Vaadhoo that farmed taro the most in the country is now without it.”
The taro from Kenya
The Ministry of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture investigated this troubling occurrence. The investigation led to the conclusion that the taro in the Maldives is facing a disease known as ‘Taro Leaf Blight’.
The solution to this problem, it appears, is planting another taro root that is free from the illness. The ministry decided that this would be the most practical remedy for the highly contagious plant disease.
In 1993 Samoa faced the impacts of the taro leaf blight, forcing the country to stop cultivating taro for economical and for daily nutrition. In 1997, new taro roots from Micronesia solved the problem.
The ministry has been bringing other taro roots to test for efficiency as a replacement. They were able to source a quality taro root from Kenya, Africa.
The Kenyan taro root was given to five islands in the south to be planted; Fuvahmulah and Vaadhoo, Fiyoaree, Gadhdhoo and Hoadedhdhoo in Gaafu Dhaalu atoll. They were planted in September, and the ministry and councils await favourable results before sourcing for all farmers in the Maldives.
The end of Maldivian Taro?
The taro plant goes through a period of growth for three to four months before it can produce the vegetable. The five islands that were given the taro root from Kenya are making progress in the right direction.
“From the 60 new taro roots planted, there is no sign of the disease,” Vaadhoo Island Council member Mohamed Shifaq said.
Fiyoaree Island Council stated that with the effect of the monsoons the taro plant has not reached their usual level of growth. However, he was happy to note that the plant did not show signs of the disease. The Kenyan taro is estimated to grow 6 to 8 inches, but the councils can only know when it’s time to harvest.
If the replantation with the new taro roots prove to be successful, all the farmers in the country will adopt the same. It is inevitable but so is the comprehension that follows: the death of true Maldivian taro.
However, there is no conclusive study as to the origin of the taro cultivated in the Maldives. An agricultural expert, Ibrahim Shabaau thinks that the roots could have been brought in from India, Sri-Lanka and Indonesia. The idea is plausible given that the nation served as a stopover on the trade route. He believes that the introduction of citrus fruits and ‘Kankun’ may have also come about as a result of the merchants’ trade travels.
Tied with hope
The farmers in the south are hopeful that taro farming will help them regain their former prosperity. For it to be lost for the future generations is not something they wish to happen.
Fiyoaree Island Council President Faizar Rasheed stated that in comparison to their glory days, the cultivation of taro for various purposes has lessened. The amount of work that the farming takes has taken a toll on the few farmers who presently do it.
Taro has been linked with everyday life for residents of Fuvahmulah, Addu and Huvadhoo. From making taro chips to Maldivian sweets from it, it has been a way of earning income for most households. However, that possibility is slowly declining.
With the onset of the taro leaf blight, the price of a taro kilo has increased threefold. A kilo cost 20–30 Rufiyaa previously, whereas nowadays it costs 80–100 Rufiyaa.
Mohamed Ibrahim said, “even if the taro root is sourced from Kenya, we hope that our farms to return to the way it was in Vaadhoo if the outcomes are beneficial for farming.”
