Introduction
Taro
(colocasia) and Kongkong taro (xanthosoma) are two staple food crops in
Sialum local level government area. Sialum LLG constitutes four zones namely
Dedua, Ziwe, Amugen and Nomu Sialum local level government which is in Tewai-Siassi
district.
Taro
is a general term referred to the starchy tuber crop which the corm is round
and oval in shape. Frequently it is known as true taro in Papua New Guinea. In this write up and seminar it will
be called colocasia using its scientific name to differentiate from the other
main staple food crop that is Kongkong
taro popularly known in Papua New Guinea. Kongkong taro will be specifically
referred to as xanthosoma using the scientific name as well. The discussion will
be in the following areas: growing (agronomy), field management and food uses.
Growing (Agronomy)
The
growing techniques for the two staples are extremely different from each other.
And so the discussion will follow as per their cultivation methods and
techniques.
First,
the technique to grow and cultivate colocasia staple crop is so complex and
tedious. Initial stage is the land preparation. A fertile land is chosen. The
fertility is qualified by looking at the soil structure, the growth of vegetations
on the land, the presence of mites and insects and even the humus compaction of
the top soil. This is made sure because there will not be any chemical and
synthetic fertilizer application to the crop during its growth stages. This staple
crop is hundred per cent organically grown.
With
the assistance of relatives, family, friends and community (comrades) the
fertile land is cleared either in a day or half. It is left to dry properly for
a week. All properly cut, dried bushes are burnt which leaves only the ashes, chars
and charcoals. The womenfolk contribute to clean and mop up the soil surface
with fire splinters and chars using a very thin and long stick that has shape
like ‘T’ at one end. This ‘T’ shape tool is used to hook the fire splinters and
chars all along the surface of the soil from one end of the garden to the
other. This is to make sure the top soil is thoroughly cooked. This leaves no
traces of fallen dried weed seeds, runner roots, nor any other tree seeds that
may grow when the colocasia is growing. They must be totally removed and
extinguished.
The
comrades are again needed for assistance in the ploughing and digging of the
soil. The soil is properly ploughed using hoes, forks and mattocks. Simultaneously,
the soil is tilted and every single root is removed. Big buttress bases of
felled trees, bases of pitpits, piper roots, etc., are up-rooted with the help
of crow bars and digging iron bars. Depending on the land area of the garden,
it takes one or two days to finished ploughing, tilting and uprooting shrubs,
weeds, pitpit roots, so on and so forth. During this time, mounds are prepared.
The mounds are not neatly arranged but in an irregular and logical manner. The
mound has a diameter of 40cm and height of 20cm at most. These mounds are places
where the suckers or the comb of the colocasia are planted. It is highly
recommended to plant on mounds for a bountiful harvest. At the same time, this
will make the job really easy and comfortable during the management and growth
stage of the colocasia staple. Also, take note that other parts of Finschafen
district dig up 30cm in depth and 20cm diameter holes as preparation for
planting of colocasia corm.
For
the planting step, the colocasia suckers are respectively placed on the mounds.
The colocasia corms are either young or cut-off-mother colocasia after harvest.
The planter uses either a specially chosen tree branch cleaned and sharpened at
one end or a sharp iron rod in these modern days for planting of colocasia combs.
This special tree is ancestrally believed to possess supernatural powers that influence
the colocasia tuber to enlarge and have a very huge comb during harvesting.
This knowledge is passed down from generations to generations.
The
practice of colocasia planting and harvesting is an inter-cropping or
mixed-cropping system. The other crops planted amongst the colocasia plants are
corn, bean, sugar-cane, banana, cabbage, bulb onion, English potato, canola, et
cetera. The planting of these vegetables
and greens are either at the side of the garden approximately about 30cm-off from
the side or the spacing amongst the mounds of the colocasia combs. A space of
40cm apart was created in-between mounds during the mound building step. It
takes at least about twelve months for the colocasia staple to be ready for
harvest.
The
other technique is to cultivate and grow xanthosoma staple food crop. The
technique is fairly straight forward and unsophisticated as opposed to colocasia.
Any ordinary villager could understand and follow these steps. The foremost
step is to inspect and choose a fertile parcel of land. With the assistance of
the comrades the shrubs and grasses are cleared. The big tree branches are cut
off and even the young whole trees are felled systematically. These are carried
out with big axes and bush knives especially the Tramontina brands. The cleared
land is left to dry for a good ten days. There are two methods used for the
cleared-land for planting. They are referred to as ‘burnt’ and ‘not-burnt’
methods. For the ‘burnt’ method the cleared and dried leaves, branches, twigs,
and grasses are burnt completely. Those other dried stuffs that did not burnt
up well are heaped and with help from dried leaves of either bananas or
coconuts are properly scorched. For the ‘not-burnt’ method only the big dried
branches are collected and removed from the garden without being burnt. The
dried leaves will be used as mulch so it is left to decompose and enrich the
soil with mineral elements especially the carbon (C), nitrogen (N), potassium (K)
and phosphorus (P).
The
next step is called the hole-digging step. Approximately about 30cm depth and
diameter of 20cm holes are dug with Tramontina spades and digging bars sourced
from old land cruiser (4X4) vehicle springs; welded, sharpened and joined onto
iron rods. A good drain is also dug up all around the whole garden using a sharp
long spade. This is to drain access water from the garden. The comrades assist
by bringing the xanthosoma combs. The corms are either young or matured xanthosoma
which were cleaned and prepared for planting.
In
the actual planting step the corms are placed into the dug holes and using
either bare hands or spade to fill up the holes. The xanthosoma staple crop
also has a mixed or inter-cropping planting system. The vegetables and greens
are planted in-between the spacing or about 30cm-off the side-end of the drain.
Special mentioned are the vegetables banana and aibika which go well with the xanthosoma
staple crop in the mixed cropping system. It takes about three to four days for
planting depends on the garden size. It takes about twelve months for the xanthosoma
staple crop to be ready for harvest.
Field Management of the staple crop (Colocasia and Xanthosoma)
For colocasia
staple crop it is a tedious work for the management. However, for the xanthosoma
it is the exact opposite.
After
about three weeks of planting, a first ceremony for colocasia is observed. It
is locally known as “tatine qeko qekok
naso.” A fat pig is slaughtered and a huge feast is prepared. While the
pots of foods are cooking the farmers go to their plots and remove every initially
dried colocasia leaves from the necks of the plant, above the soil leaving only
the fresh young shoots. There may be about three or four leaves with stalks which
are starting to roll open their leaves. Xanthosoma does not have such ceremony
or removal of initially dried leaves.
For the
shading, near the colocasia garden there are no shade trees allowed to stand. A
clearing of about 20 meters all around the garden is accepted making sure there
is not one shade tree nearby. For xanthosoma staple crop shade is allowed. From
past practice and observation, it was learnt that when shade trees are left to
grow nearby, the colocasia plant grows quite tall indicating lack of sunlight. This
results in small size and not desirable tubers when harvested. Others even rot
when a heavy rain which allows the water collection onto the shade-tree leaves that
contribute a high mass of droplets causing much destruction.
Colocasia
leaves and stalks are not allowed to fall onto the soil surface when still
green. When there are some that fall; fork-shape twigs are used to support the
leaves and stalks to stay upright. The support is fastened with ropes. The
leaves and stalks rest on these fork-shape twigs and ropes. Food produced on
the green leaves is transferred to the tubers. Therefore every single leaves of
the colocasia are essential for food production. Sunlight provides the energy that
converts the chlorophyll in the presence of water to produce food that is
scientifically referred to as the ‘process
of photosynthesize.’
During
the growing period the soil is made sure it is soften by the tilting and even
mulching from up-rooted weeds and grasses those are piled at the base of the growing
colocasia plant. The mulching is to prevent soil erosion and also enhance organic
fertility of the soil. Weeding process is an important process in management.
The softened soil enables the roots to easily search to up-take nutrients and
water for growth.
At
about seventh month into the colocasia growth a second ceremony is observed.
This time any type of animal is slaughtered and pots of food with soups as well
as vegetables are cooked. Concurrently, the farmer and assistants go to the
garden and heap up the soil at the base of every single growing colocasia
staple crop with bare hands. This is known in Onoka language as “Jung Kikiok.” After the soil heaping the
food is served and eaten. It takes about 2-3 days for the entire garden to
finish. This is a belief or a traditional by-law of the colocasia management
passed through the generations. Scientifically, it is understood that the roots
that supply the staple with nutrients and water are now suffocated. This means
the food supply is cut off leaving only the food production on the leaves that
continue to supply the tuber and make it grow. The farmer continues with
weeding and making sure no leaves fall to the ground. This ceremony is not
observed for the xanthosoma staple crop.
Other
greens and vegetables planted in-between the staple are ready for harvest
especially cabbages, beans, English potato, canola, cucumber, watermelon, pumpkin
leaves with shoots and corn. This will be in the months nearing the Christmas
cerebrations (December and January). The bananas and sugar canes will have
grown up providing a bit of shading. In the final 10th to 12th
month the soil is continually piled up for the absolute suffocation of the
roots. The colocasia staple will now be ready for harvest.
For xanthosoma
staple at the 7th month of growth the other crops planted in-between
will be ready for harvest. The management of weed is really important. All the
weeds are uprooted and placed again at the base of the xanthosoma plant. As the
weeds rot they dissipate into the xanthosoma plant supplying it with organically
rich fertilizer such as the NPK and C.
Food Uses of the staples (Colocasia and Xanthosoma)
The
main uses of the staples are for food and feed. Major events and parties take
place during harvesting of colocasia and xanthosoma staples. The events like
bride price payment, head stone construction, opening and launching of newly
constructed houses, churches, etc., occur at this time. This is because there
are abundant supplies of both staples.
Xanthosoma
staple is sometimes made into cakes with ripe banana normally called taro-banana cake. This is a way of food
preparation or dish for human consumption.
One
industrial use is the usage of the starch as medicine to treat fresh cuts and diarrhea.
Staple
crops are exchanged as compensation to bring peace to the society. This serves
a vital purpose for both disputing parties.
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