NgaraMaiberel Women?s Organization is a traditional community-based women?s organization that is
comprised of women representing the 10 hamlets of Koror State. Many of the Maiberel members who
are now elderly (60-90 years old) have been consistently engaged in taro production in their respective
hamlets since their youth. These proponents have witnessed changes in the mesei conditions throughout
the last 40-50 years of urban development and population density in Koror State. They desire to address
and resolve unfavorable mesei conditions such as blocakage of the water systems due to compact
sedimentation and pollutants as well as unhealthy crop yields due to poor soil properties. In preparation
for this proposal, technical partners from Palau Community Action Agency (PCAA), Bureau of Agriculture
(BOA), Palau Community College-Cooperative Research Extension (PCC-CRE) and Taiwan Technical
Mission (TTM) conducted an initial site visit in August and October 2019 to assess the mesei conditions in
Ngermid and Meyuns Hamlet. Dense sedimentation buildup in original water systems, poor soil
conditions, and increase in pests/diseases can be observed immediately.
The main problem that the community is experiencing is that there has been a decline in taro cultivation
in the hamlet taro fields due to blocked water ways and persistent sediment buildup. Along with other
changing social factors, this has resulted in an alarming loss of traditional knowledge around taro
cultivation and overall agro-ecology as well as an alarming decline in consumption of taro. Taro cultivation
is an integral part of Palauan culture, particularly for a matrilineal society such as ours, whereby taro
cultivation often determines the status and wealth of Palauan females. If we lose the traditional
knowledge and practice of taro cultivation, it would also represent a loss in a deeply rooted cultural
tradition that defines our matrilineal society. Furthermore, the decrease in consumption of taro and other
traditional foods has created an alarming dependence on processed imported food products that have
been attributed to the state of emergency that Palau has faced with regard to the rise in NCDs.
The following are the Project?s key objectives:
A. Effectively improve traditional water systems in Ngermid and Meyuns Hamlet taro farms to help
restore healthy taro farming conditions.
B. Effectively address and resolve decline in taro production in Ngermid and Meyuns Hamlets.
C. Promote the benefits of and encourage taro farming across Koror State.
To achieve these objectives, the total estimated cost of implementing this 2-year project is approximately
$90,760.00. Of this amount, the proponent organization estimates a total of $12,400.00 of in-kind
contributions, while community contributions are valued at $8,000.00, and other co-financiers (technical
partners) are projected to be $20,360. The project proponents are therefore requesting $50,000.00 from
GEF SGP (see budget summary below for detailed information).