Report Title:

Taro Research; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates an unspecified amount for research on taro disease and related problems.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1321

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

making an appropriation for taro research.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that taro yield and quality have declined sharply on all islands due to diseases and pests that affect the leaves and corms of taro. The diseases, leaf blight, pocket rot, and soft rot, have been in the islands for many years, but severe yield losses ranging from thirty per cent to seventy per cent have only been reported since Hurricane Iniki (after 1992). These three diseases are now spreading rapidly throughout the State, and are affecting both the yield and quality of the taro.

Taro is not only the foundation for traditional Hawaiian agriculture, it is also the staple of the native Hawaiian diet and a vital expression of native Hawaiian cultural values. Article XII of the state constitution and the state water code mandate the protection of taro cultivation as a traditional and customary right. Taro cultivation is also an opportunity for sustainable community-based economic development. Traditional Hawaiian crops, such as taro, can generate economic development in communities where sugar once was the predominant cash crop.

In response to urgent appeals from taro growers to the University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources to provide workable strategies that would enable them to restore taro yields to pre-Iniki levels, a team of researchers and extension agents, in concurrence with taro farmers from Hanalei, reached consensus on undertaking short-term and long-term strategies to deal with this taro yield decline problem.

To obtain answers to the cause of the taro yield decline problem, an interdisciplinary team of college of tropical agriculture and human resources personnel will work to achieve the following objectives: determine the role of microbial pathogens on taro pocket rot and phytophthora leaf blight; determine the effect of soil and crop management on crop yield and the severity of taro pocket rot and phytophthora leaf blight; and evaluate poi quality and luau taro varieties for resistance to taro pocket rot, phytophthora leaf blight, and pythium root rot. The appropriation in this Act, for funds in addition to those included in the university's base budget request, will enable the continuation of several lines of research that were begun at the college of tropical agriculture and human resources in 1997 to save the taro industry.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $       or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003-2004 for research on diseases and other problems with taro throughout the State, to be performed by the University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2003.

INTRODUCED BY:

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