Traditional crop knowledge preserved in Tongan book

Transcript

The author of a new book which documents traditional methods of growing yam says the book has preserved indigenous crop planting knowledge valuable to farmers in the region.

The book 'Tokanga ko e Mo'ui'anga' has been published in the Tongan language and was recently launched in Auckland by author Sione Tu'itahi.

Mr Tu'itahi based the book on the experience of the late Kiteau Tatafu, who was an award-winning crop farmer in Tonga.

He spoke to Indira Stewart.

SIONE TU'ITAHI: Tonga, as part of the pacific region is a repository of knowledge which has stood the test of time. And the opportunity for me to record the story of this great farmer is a blessing for me. The fact that many of our ancestors have gone to the next life without having their knowledge shared, so it's important that we document the knowledge of those that have come before us so that we learn from that.

INDIRA STEWART: Can you talk a little bit about Kiteau Tatafu who shared his experience with you in the book and inspired much of what is in the book? Can you tell us a little bit about perhaps the legacy he left in terms of farming?

ST: So he was very scientific and systematic to his approach. So he experimented with how to grow the seedlings. He experimented with how and when to prepare the land and to grow the yams using the faces of the moon and that's a traditional form of knowledge. He experimented with which land in which the yam will grow best and all of those aspects of yam farming. You know, as an evidence he, for some thirty years, has been the first prize winner of yam farming at the Tongatapu agricultural show.

IS: That's amazing. What would you say about how valuable that knowledge still is in terms of planting crops in a time where we've got more developed technology and perhaps more modern practices, would you say that that's still very relevant?

ST: Still very relevant. Not just because of it's historical importance but also because of what we can learn from the past in helping us to navigate our way into the future. One of the significant points about Kiteau's methodology is that it is very organic and very eco-friendly. Most of the devices and ways that he employed to farm yam are very much in line with the principles of living harmoniously with nature.

IS: Through interviewing Kiteau you found out that yam was one of the fastest food crops to plant. What's the turn around time in between planting and harvesting?

ST: Normally it takes a few months so what Kiteau has actually improved on was actually an existing form of planting of yams where you plant the first crop in April and May and then you harvest it in December. But instead of harvesting the whole crop, you actually cut off the head of the yam and leave that in the soil. In two months time you go back and you'll find that you'll have at least three or four big yams, same size as the first one you harvested early in December. So in essence you actually are harvesting the same yam twice. In terms of the effort of time and land preparation you're actually saving a lot but you are reaping a lot from yam growing.