The management of cassava toxicity and its changing sociocultural context in the Kei Islands, eastern Indonesia.
Over a period of 150 years the Kei Islands have undergone environmental change, from rainforest to dryland savanna woodland. This has been accompanied by a shift in starch staple from sago, tubers, and grain to cassava. We show how this has been an effective ecological adaptation with social ramifications, not least the adoption of bitter cassava as a cultural identity marker. One of the problems of bitter cassava diets where people have become dependent upon them in poor parts of the Old World tropics are the effects of toxicity. We show how through a combination of factors and strategies this has not been a major issue in the Kei Islands, and how through a government-assisted agricultural project, attempts are being made to build upon this successful transition. The viability of present trends are evaluated.
Universitas Pattimura, Faculty of Social and Political Science, Ambon, Maluku, Indonesia.
Hermien L
HL
Soselisa
Roy
R
Ellen
D000383:Agriculture; D003469:Culture; D004032:Diet / Q000639:trends*; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004463:Ecology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007214:Indonesia; D002365:Manihot / Q000633:toxicity; D013213:Starch; D013649:Taste; D014675:Vegetables
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D013213:Starch