Diversity, Economic Value and Regional Distribution of Plant Food Products at Local Tropical Markets: A Samoa Case Study

Vladimir Verner, Pavel Novy, Jan Tauchen, Lukas Huml, Julian Wong Soon, Tomas Kudera, Fiti Laupua and Ladislav Kokoska
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Vladimir Verner: Department of Economics and Development, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamycka 129, 165 21 Prague 6-Suchdol, Czech Republic
Pavel Novy: Department of Quality of Agricultural Products, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamycka 129, 165 21 Prague 6-Suchdol, Czech Republic
Jan Tauchen: Department of Quality of Agricultural Products, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamycka 129, 165 21 Prague 6-Suchdol, Czech Republic
Lukas Huml: Department of Chemistry of Natural Compounds, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technicka 5, 166 28 Prague 6–Dejvice, Czech Republic
Julian Wong Soon: Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa, P.O. Box 6597 Apia, Western Samoa
Tomas Kudera: Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamycka 129, 165 21 Prague 6-Suchdol, Czech Republic
Fiti Laupua: Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa, P.O. Box 6597 Apia, Western Samoa
Ladislav Kokoska: Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamycka 129, 165 21 Prague 6-Suchdol, Czech Republic

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 23, 1-15

Abstract: Local markets are still an integral part of the food system in developing economies of tropical regions including Samoa. This small South Pacific country is largely dependent on the production of crops in village agriculture, where traditional markets play an important role in sustainability of food supply. Similarly as many small island developing economies, Samoa is currently facing several challenges such as food security and high dependence on food imports. Therefore, we decided to monitor the diversity of plant foods on Samoan local markets and their economic and geographic indicators through interviews with the vendors. Our results suggest that assortment and economical value of plant food products have potential to increase sustainable food security of the local population and support economic growth of the region. For example, underutilized crops available at local markets are prospective species for development of new food products with beneficial nutritional and health properties. Moreover, certain commodities (e.g., papaya, kava and Samoan cocoa) seem to be promising for export. In addition, our findings suggest that development of appropriate processing technologies and the optimization of the logistics of crop products sold at local markets can contribute to an increase in efficiency of the regional agricultural sector.

Keywords: Samoa; local market; inventory; cash crop; agricultural production (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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