My speech

My speech about Taro

Hi my name is Jessie Witeri, I’m 11yrs old and my speech is about a Samoan vegetable called Taro.

Well lets get started in Samoa Taro is a very healthy source of vegetable that grows in the ground. You can also eat the leaves of the Taro. Samoans use the Taro leaves for making luau (Taro leaves and coconut wrapped in foil).The remaining leaf stems are cut approximately 12-16 inches above the removed corms and these tiapula are either allowed to dry for a few days or they are replanted immediately.

The Taro grows in the ground. You can regrow it once the Taro leaves are cut off and out of the ground. You can also grow it in your backyard where it is dry or in your very own garden and if you don’t have any seeds or Taro plants then you could buy some at the shops.

Taro all taste the same they come in different sizes. The only kick in it is that some people might not even like Taro because it is a vegetable yikes! So maybe they might not like it (but I hope they do). So no matter how they cook the Taro bake it, boil it or even steam it Taro will always taste the same.

Now I have told you how it tastes, when it is grown and I have even told you what Taro is, but not much people will know that in Samoa Leaf Blight hit them in 1993-1994.Leaf Blight is a disease that grows on Taro when it first comes from the ground. There are also some other diseases that grow or eat away the Taro like… Armyworms, Plant hoppers and of course weeds but Armyworms and Plant hoppers are just pests that eat away the Taro.

Now lots of people will be asking is Taro even healthy well I have the answer of course it is (dah). It is healthy because it is a vegetable and even if it isn’t, when the Taro first comes out of the ground and washed and ready to hit the markets the Taro is prized by the Samoans for its taste and texture. And if you don’t believe me grow some for yourselves and you can see with your own eyes.

Okay where was I, ah there Taro comes in different shapes and sizes. Some Taro eve have there names for each different shape and size. So Taro will always be Samoa’s main vegetable forever.

So maybe you should try growing some or if you can’t do that then try and but some at the shops because it has to be nice if the bugs like Armyworms and Plant hoppers like it.

In many fields Taro is continuously cultivated unless pests, diseases or poor yields force temporary abandonment of the site. Dry land Taro is not irrigated in American Samoa and wetland Taro is not flooded. Taro can be grown in the United States of America, Samoa, Aotearoa, Australia, France, Japan and Jamaica. Now off to the pest thing again, many American Samoa farmers list Armyworm as their main Taro insect pest. But just to tell you Taro is nice just in case you get the wrong idea.

Ever since 1996 Taro has been growing from American Samoa to Jamaica and mainly the independent state of Samoa itself. Taro is an all year round vegetable so once the leaves of the Taro are cut off it will regrow it self (it works just like magic).

Lots of Samoans eat Taro with coconut cream and onion. (Even though I have never tried it I still think it will be nice). After all of those distracting and irritating questions there is still one more, is Taro nicer than other vegetables like beans, peas and kumara, well I have the answer once again (dah) Taro is way nicer than all of those vegetables you just need to know how to cook it. (But it will probably taste the same and make no difference than other Taros).

Gift giving is one of Samoa’s main religions and apart of Samoa’s life, food like Taro is always welcome in Samoa particularly when large groups are attending functions.
Well that brings me to the end of my speech I hoped you enjoyed it and see ya next time. The End Jessie Witeri.