Palau has 81 taro varieties. See Taro Production in Palau in the Resources section for comprehensive descriptions.

For centuries Palauans have been living in harmony with nature. Their daily lives are intertwined with the land and the sea and oral histories reveal the core Palauan value of respect ‘omengull’ that has built resilient communities over time, with kukau cultivation systems as part of sustainable watershed systems which serve as natural filtering systems for streams, mangroves, and estuaries resulting in healthy ecosystems, both on land and in the near-shore environment.

Agricultural production contributes to only about 2% of Palau’s GDP (as of 2021). Palau’s agriculture can be categorized into three types:

1. Subsistence farming: Production for household consumption and the role of food in Palauan traditions and social networks.
2. Semi-subsistence: Production for household consumption including traditions and social networks and occasional sales.
3. Commercial: Production for local markets.

As urban employment opportunities are increasingly available to younger generations, there are fewer people, and particularly women, practicing traditional farming. Another barrier reported by suppliers and buyers is the lack of a central marketplace. There is demand for an organic certification, which could increase the economic value of Palau’s products and open up the potential for export. The first group of women-owned taro farms was certified under the Pacific Organic Standard in 2022.

Planting season follows lunar cycles or ocean tides. 

Weed Control: Manual weeding is done by using a hoe or scythe. The weeds are removed in between plants and between rows. Weeds near the base of the plants are hand-pulled. Once the leaf canopy closes, weeding is no longer done.

Fertilization: One month after planting, a handful of compost or manure and a handful of inorganic fertilizer (10-30-10) are placed about 7 cm around the base of each plant and then covered with soil.

Pest and Disease Control: There are four main pests to kukau: cluster caterpillar, taro hornworm, melon aphid, and taro leafhopper. 

There are two main diseases: Taro Corm Rot and Taro Leaf Blight. There are multiple methods of control for Taro Corm Rot, including application of lime to increase soil pH and application of chicken manure to support the health of the microorganismal ecosystem. Night-time temperatures of 20-22 C and 100 % relative humidity with light rains or dew in the morning increase the severity of the Taro Leaf Blight fungus.

There are multiple kukau production systems. Mesei, or cultivated taro fields, refers to growing and cultivating kukau (Colocasia esculenta), or purple taro. Taro fields are tilled which requires turning the soil, putting in mulching materials, covering the soil, and planting. Harvesting taro corm involves cutting the taro corm from the stem and scraping dirt and roots from the corm.