REPORT TITLE:
Taro Research


DESCRIPTION:
Appropriates funds for research on diseases and other problems
associated with taro.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        1678 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                     
STATE OF HAWAII                                                 
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR TARO RESEARCH.



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

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the yield and quality
 
 2 of taro have declined sharply on all islands due to diseases and
 
 3 pests that affect the leaves and corms of taro.  The diseases,
 
 4 leaf blight and pocket rot, have been in the islands for many
 
 5 years, but severe yield losses ranging from thirty per cent to
 
 6 seventy per cent have only been reported since Hurricane Iniki
 
 7 (after 1992).  These two diseases are now spreading rapidly
 
 8 throughout the State.
 
 9      In response to urgent appeals from taro growers to the
 
10 University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human
 
11 resources to provide workable strategies that would enable the
 
12 growers to restore taro yields to pre-Iniki levels, a team of
 
13 researchers and extension agents, in concurrence with taro
 
14 farmers from Hanalei, reached consensus on undertaking short-term
 
15 and long-term strategies to deal with this taro yield decline
 
16 problem.
 
17      To obtain answers to the cause of the taro yield decline
 
18 problem, an interdisciplinary team of University of Hawaii
 
19 college of tropical agriculture and human resources will work to
 
20 achieve the following objectives:
 

 
Page 2                                         1678        
                                     H.B. NO.           
                                     
                                                        

 
 1      (1)  Determine the role of microbial pathogens on taro
 
 2           pocket rot and phytophthora leaf blight;
 
 3      (2)  Determine the effect of soil and crop management on
 
 4           crop yield and the severity of taro pocket rot and
 
 5           phytophthora leaf blight; and
 
 6      (3)  Evaluate poi quality and luau taro varieties for
 
 7           resistance to taro pocket rot, phytophthora leaf
 
 8           blight, and pythium root rot.
 
 9      SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
10 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          or so much
 
11 thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 1999-2000 for
 
12 research on diseases and other problems associated with taro
 
13 throughout the State.  The research shall be performed by the
 
14 University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human
 
15 resources.
 
16      SECTION 3.  The sum appropriated shall be expended by the
 
17 University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.
 
18      SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 1999.
 
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21                           INTRODUCED BY: ________________________