Country Status Reports on Underutilized Crops by Tolo Iosefa, Samoa - Regional Expert Consultation on Underutilized Crops for Food and Nutritional Security in Asia and the Pacific November 13-15, 2017, Bangkok

1. Country Report - Samoa
Underutilized Crops for Food and Nutritional Security in
Asia and the Pacific
APAARI
November 13 – 15, 2017
Rama Gardens Hotel, Bangkok
Moafanua Tolo Iosefa
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries

2. 1: Background Information.
Source: Google earth 2009.
The Setting:
• latitude 130 and 150 south
• Longitude 1700 and 1730 west
Location:
•2500 miles east of Australia
•1900 miles north east of New Zealand
The Island Group:
•Two main islands with several small islets
• land area - <3000km2
•48% suitable for agriculture
Population (2016 Census):
•> 186,000
•25% dwell in the capital.

3. 1.Background Information cont.
Climate of Samoa:
Temperature.
Mean lowland daily :
270 C to 300 C.
Mean upland daily:
200 C to 210 C.
Rainfall.
Samoa has two season marked by significant differences in rainfall.
Annual rainfall is about 3000mm, 75% of the precipitation occurs between November &
February.
Wet areas are located in the south east, drier areas are located in the north west of two
main islands.
The dry season is more pronounced in the north west sides of Upolu & Savaii.

4. Agriculture Sector Plan: 2016 – 2020
Vision:
A Sustainable Agriculture Sector & Fisheries Sector for
Food Security, Health, Prosperity, Job Creation and
Resilience.
Goal:
To Increase Food, Nutrition and Income Security.

5. Crops of economic importance
area of distribution uses
Coconut cocos nucifera all coastal area food & sale & export
Taro colocasia esculenta widespread food & sale & export
Banana musa spp widespread food & sale & export
Cocoa Theobromae spp north west lowland beverage & sale
Breadfruit Artocarpus altilis widespread food & sale & flour
Yams Dioscorea spp widespread food & export
Papaya Carica papaya common fruit tree food & sale
Vanilla Vanilla planifolia few locations export
Alocasia Alocasia spp widespread food & export
Xanthosoma Xanthosoma spp lowland & dry area food & sale

6. Under-utilized crops
Lesser importance but considered for nutritional value:
Sweet potato Ipomea batatas
Pele (Aibika) Albelmoschus manihot
Other neglected plants need serious attention for healthy diet)
Tamaligi/drumstick Moringa oleifera
Bitter gourd Mormodica charantia
Okra Abelmoschus esculenta
NB: these crops are considered rich in minerals, good for health and will
be included as part of the promotional campaign with Health Ministry in
Samoa to promote healthy eating for healthy Samoa.

7. Germplasm Collection, Characterization, Conservation and Documentation
The Crops Division is managing a collection of all listed crops
Collection:
• Aroids and root and tuber crops collected
Taro collection: >30 varieties and clones are maintained in the field
Cassava : 6 varieties, two local plus 4 SPC accessions, still collecting from farmers field
Sweet potato: 16 accessions, all from SPC, on-going evaluation for yield and sensory
Yams: field collections of D. cayanensis, D. numullaria; D. rotundata – high demand
for export.
• Coconut: field collection of > 10 varieties in the on station plot; new Coconut Genebank will
be established soon.
• Field Collection of plant for healthy diet (Moringa, Aibika and bitter gourd) for
evaluation and screening.

8. Fruit trees: Collection at Atele farm is well maintained, will become an Agri-
tourism park next year..
Species Botanical names Families
Abiu Pouteria caimito Sapotaceae
Sooursop Annona muricata Annonaceae
Rollinia Rollinia deliciosa Annonaceae
Star apple Chrysophyllum cainito Sapotaceae
Starfruit Averrhoa carambolae Oxalidaceae
Pomelo Citrus maxima Rutaceae
Grapefruit Citrus paradisi Rutaceae
Orange Citrus sinensis Rutaceae
Lemon Citrus jambhiri Rutaceae
Sapodilla Manilkara zapota Sapotaceae
Jackfruit Artocarpus heterophyllus Moraceae
Mango Mangifera indica Anacardiaceae

9. Characterization and Documentation:
• Need technical assistance in this area
Plan to start on Aroids and other roots and tuber crops in 2018
Conservation:
• Aroids and other root crops - field and in-vitro
• Coconut - planned to conserve in-vitro in the near future
• Export banana (William and Asdia) from South Africa will be TC for the supply
of disease free

10. Varietal development:
Taro:
Continue breeding program for:
• Yield quality for export
• Drought tolerance/resistance traits
• Nutritional value – coloured corm for carotenoids
• high phenolic content in leaves – (Rui F. Goncalves (2013).
• Value adding potential???
Sweet potato (introduced accessions):
• Continue field evaluation and selection for short vine (dwarf) traits,
scab moth and tuber and stem weevil resistance , yield and sensory.
Aibika:
• Request for introduction of new accessions from outside source for
evaluation and screening.
• Selection, launching and distribution to farmers (farmer on-farm
trials)

11. Parental Genotypes
Pacific Origin
Samoa
Palau
FSM
S E Asia Origin
Malaysia
Indonesia
Philippines
Polygenic approach
for horizontal
resistance
Breeding method Outcome
Cycle-1 (1996)
Cycle-2 (2000)
Cycle-3 (2002)
Cycle-4 (2004)
Cycle-5 (2006)
TLB Horizontal Resistance
Modified Backcrossing (cv .Niue) for eating quality
Selected
clones from
Cycle-5
cv. Niue
X
Cycle-6
(BCF1
Cycle-7
BC-1
Cycle-C8
BC-2

12. Marketing, Commercialization and trade:
Coconut:
• Huge potential in export of coconut and coconut products
• High demand for virgin coconut oil in EU market – WIBDI in SAMOA.
Taro:
• Export of fresh and frozen taro oversea markets is expanding.
• Need to explore the value adding potential of taro.
Sweet potato & Aibika are high value crops.
• Need to explore market potential.
• Create awareness program for promotion to farmers & consumers.
Explore market potential of Aibika, drumstick, bitter
gourd and okra
• Information finding on the nutritional value of these plants.
0
2000000
4000000
6000000
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
freshweightinkg
years
Taro export volume (kg)
Series

13. Conclusion.
Underutilized crops or plants to promote healthy diet as an effective bio-remedies
is an alternative opportunity of income generating for farmers in rural
communities.
A national strategy plan for promotion, mass multiplication, distribution and
commercialization of plants high in nutritional value for health must be a priority.
Encourage private sectors to engage in large scale commercialization of
cultivation of underutilized plants for health.
Ministry to implement and sustain field conservation and multiplication for
distribution of planting materials.
Prepare awareness program (radio or TV) and invite farmers to a public place for
a public lecture.

14. Faafetai
Thank you