Taro in Madagascar

Taro in Madagascar

•  Orphan crops •  Contribute to food

security •  Contribute to

farmer’s income •  Closely linked with

pork production in some region (Itasy, Vakinankaratra, etc.)

Research on Taro in Madagascar

FOFIFA •  Does not have a special

Programme on Taro •  Involved in the issues

related to rural development at national level

•  Needs from the agriculture department to identify Taro diseases (eastern region) and to introduce resistant varieties

FIFAMANOR •  Starts research

activities in 2000 •  As collaborative project

with the national Programme de Soutien pour le Développement Rural (PSDR)

Germplasm

•  54 cultivars ( 22 local cultivars, and 32 varieties from Vanuatu)

•  Maintained in field and in vitro

Biotic stresses for taro (C. esculenta) and cocoyam (X. sagittifolium),

•  Mealybugs •  Caterpillars •  Aphids

•  Fungus diseases (Cladosporiose, Phytiose)

•  Nematods

Previous breeding experiences with edible aroids

•  Introduction of new cultivars

•  Micropropagation •  Field multiplication •  Participatory

breeding with farmers

Farmers' needs

•  Availability of resistant to diseases varieties

•  Improve Taro production •  Taro with improved taste •  Availability of varieties adapted to

different agro-ecological conditions

Expectations from the proposed global project

•  To broaden genetic diversity of Taro •  To develop varieties resistant to

diseases and to drough •  To improve Taro production •  To produce Taro with improved taste •  To enhance national capacity on: rapid

propagation of new varieties, identification of Taro diseases

Thanks for your attention