Taro Workshop
Sponsored by the Palau Small Grants Programme (SGP) and MNRET Environmental Planning & Coordination Unit (EPCU GEF6) in partnership with Palau Conservation Society (PCS) and the National Environmental Protection Council (NEPC, MOF)
Program and Attendees
PROGRAM and ATTENDEES:
Taro Best Practice Publications:
Information Sheet: Key Agricultural Support Services for Wetland Taro Farming (Mesei) (Ongelibel Remengesau, 2021)
Keeping Mesei free of diseases and weeds - How to disinfect plants (Dr. Joel Miles)
Invasive Species that threaten Palau's Wetlands (Poster with pictures)
Taro (PREL)
(How to make taro flour) Production of Cooked Taro Flour (Taiwan Technical Farm and Bureau of Agriculture, 2018)
Presentations and Best Practices
NOTES from the Workshop - raw notes, captures some but not all conversation. Use together with Presentations
PICTURES from the Workshop (free to use, please credit MNRET GEF6)
PRESENTATIONS:
Overview
1. Opening – Jodean Ongelibel Remengesau, MNRET GEF6, Master of Ceremony
2.Welcome and Status of current taro production – Director Fred Sengebau, BOA
3. Setting the Scene – Kiblas Soaladaob, SGP and Dolmii Remeliik, MNRET GEF6
Lessons Learned from previous SGP Taro projects
1. Overview of SGP-funded Taro Projects – Kiblas Soaladaob, SGP
2. PRI: Ngarchelong projects; labor, identity, partnerships, festival – Dilruk Faustina Rehuher-Marugg.
Download the Ngarchelong Mesei booklet (PRI)
Mesei: Taro field landscapes in Palau (Faustina K. Rehuher-Marugg and Julita Tellei, chapter from the Traditional Knowledge and Wisdom book)
Traditional Knowledge and Wisdom: Themes from the Pacific Islands (Whole book; Mesei chapter on page 200; other Palau chapters start on page 30, 150, 264, and 338)
3. Ngara Yaml: Airai; sustainable land management, soils – Carol Emaurois Dengokl
4. Ngara Ekil: Ngardmau; project development, tours, youth, training – Tarita Holm
Best Practices
1. Biodiversity and environmental sustainability:
a. BOA: Soil health and Organic Farming – Terebkul Tellei
b. PCAA: Mulching versus fertilizers – Leonard Basilius
c. PCC-CRE: “Benefits of conservation agriculture in upland taro production and plant tissue culture for taro germplasm conservation” – Mereng Renguul (advised by Dr. Yin Yin Nwe)
2. Planning, coordination, supply, marketing:
a. PCC-CRE: 2 presentations: Saltwater tolerant taro varieties and Mesei economics – Felix Sengebau
b. PCAA/Head Start: Buyer’s Perspective – Rudimch Kuroda
3. Diversification and added-value:
a. Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) – Processing and accessibility – Sunny Shie
4. Social sustainability
a. Ngiwal State: Cost-share and labor program – Principal Lorenza Olkeriil
b. PCS: Lessons from the USAID Taro project – Zina Ringrang
Upcoming Opportunities
2. NDBP: Agriculture Loan Programs – Cella Mathew and Edangel Rdang