The Department of Agriculture is assessing crop damage from Cyclone Gita and expects to have a report on how long current supplies will last by the end of this week.
Director of Agriculture Filifaatali Mike Fuiava says reviewing the types of assistance that FEMA provides if a disaster declaration is declared, only commercial farmers stand to benefit.
But he is discussing with the federal agency that many families grow,their own crops for themselves and if those crops are destroyed it does affect a family’s food security.
For example if there are no breadfruit or bananas in their backyard, a family would need to buy food from the market or substitute staples like rice.
A local farmer Sosene Leau told KHJ News that breadfruits were destroyed by Gita and bananas as well. Taro isn’t so bad because it’s a root crop.
In other agriculture news, since the ban on taro imports from Samoa was lifeted, the day before Cyclone Gita blew over the terruitory, residents have been bringing in taro for personal consumption and for faalavelave.
The first commercial imports since the ban was lifted are expected on the Lady Naomi today.
The Director says inspectors were in Apia last week to check planatations of exporters who have applied to import taro to the territory.
One of the new conditions that was set by the Director before the ban was lifted is that exporters must be inspected by the local DOA to verify that they have plantations.
Another condition is that all taro should be clean.
