The Lady Naomi’s trip on Thursday will bring the first commercial consignment of taro from Apia in more than two months.
Director of Agriculture Flifaatali Mike Fuiava says so far permits have been issued to 4 commercial importers of taro planning to bring taro on the Lady Naomi’s weekly sailing.
He says his department is satisfied with the proposal by Samoa to have all taro being shipped here go through the same process as taro exports to other overseas markets.
Filifaatali says this eliminates the need to send inspectors form here to check out plantations supplying taro for export to the territory.
And there‘s no waiting time between when an application for an import permit is lodged and the actual export date.
The agriculture director echoed the sentiments of his counterparts in Samoa saying he’s happy that they have come to a mutually beneficial agreement on the taro situation.
Filifaatali also pointed out that his department will monitor taro shipments from Samoa and the ability of farmers in American Samoa to supply local demand.
He says this is nothing new.
The Department of Agriculture does check on production of local farmers when determining how much outside crops should be allowed into the territory at any given time.
