Root crops ( cassava, sweet potato, taro and yam ) are the main staple food in the Pacific countries of Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu. Root crop production in these countries is mainly centred on small plots of land where the crops are grown primarily for home consumption. The crops are harvested only when needed and very little processing is carried out. A few commercial farms do exist and are centred close to urban markets.
As each country faces an increase in its urban population and an increase in the production of export orientated cash crops, the production of local, staple crops have been affected. This has led to a greater dependency on the importation of staple commodities such as rice and convenience foods such as wheat flour bread and snack foods.
Due to the perishability of root crops, the difficulty of transporting the crops within the country and the lack of developed market outlets, only an estimated 10% of the total root crop production of the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu are marketed locally. In Tonga, locally marketed root crops amount to about 10 - 20% total national production. The prices of root crops traded on the local market are therefore relatively higher than the price of imported staple food commodities.
The above situation is creating an increased dependency on overseas markets to supply the basic food consumption needs of each country. National food security can thus be jeopardised and balance of payments can become a serious problem for the exchequer.
Lack of knowledge in the area of food processing in the Pacific Islands hinders the development in preservation, value adding or increasing the convenience of locally grown commodities for the local market. On the other hand, products such as jam, sauces, bread, biscuits, noodles, cakes and even fruit juice could be made locally. Such processing activities and enterprises could generate additional employment and income opportunities at both household and commercial levels.
As an initial step, FAO provided technical assistance through the project "The Promotion of Increased Utilisation of Local Root Crops" [ TCP/RAS/2254]. The project supported Government efforts in each of the three countries, to develop basic facilities and providing training in food processing. Training activities for promoting and developing root crop products were initiated.
This publication is a collection of the products and recipes developed by the above project. The recipes are primarily designed for use at the household level or as a basic product formula upon which to expand production at the small scale, industrial level. The processing equipment purchased or fabricated locally by the project are illustrated and the names of equipment suppliers listed.
It is hoped that this book can assist small producers and entrepreneurs, especially women, increase their income and raise their living standards as they put the information into practice.
A.Z.M . Obaidullah Khan
Assistant Director General and
Regional Representative for
Asia and the Pacific.