The Past, Present and future of Traditional Taro irrigation in the pacific, an example of traditional ecological knowledge

Abstract

Three main varieties of traditional irrigation can be found in the pacific: swampland, pit cultication and true (canal) irrigation. The advantage which made irrigation an attractive agricultural technique for Pacific peoples are discussed in this paper. Since European contact, use of irrigated gardens has declined in many parts of the Region, but a recent trend in some places (Solomons, Vanuatu, Hawaii) has been the revival of traditional irrigation technologies. The paper examines why traditional irrigation remains viable today and ma remain so in the future.