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Geospatial Analysis Of Traditional Taro Farming In Rurutu French Polynesia
Escue, Claudia Michelle
Escue, Claudia Michelle
Abstract
Taro (Colocasia esculenta) is the main subsistence crop across much of Polynesia; however, its production via traditional methods is becoming increasingly rare. This study explores taro cultivation in Rurutu, Austral Islands, French Polynesia where traditional farming practices have persisted from pre-European contact times to the present. Specifically, we investigate if pre-European contact Rurutu fits Kirch’s ‘Wet vs. Dry’ hypothesis describing the relationship between environmental variables, agricultural choices and productivity, and the development of socio-political complexity across Polynesia. We use Landsat imagery and geospatial suitability analysis to determine the location of 13 dormant taro systems on Rurutu. We then estimate the island's pre-contact population and population distribution using probable annual yields of taro as proxy data. Our results show significant intra-island differences of taro production on pre-contact Rurutu. We suggest Rurutu conforms to the ‘Wet vs. Dry’ hypothesis as the island’s largest taro yields and thus largest pre-contact populations are in socio-political districts that practiced wetland agriculture. Lastly, we discuss how our foundational data can contribute to ongoing conversations regarding food sovereignty in Oceania and beyond.
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2021-01-01
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Anthropology
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21220/kgq7-r056