Unlock this article by subscribing to Kaniva News Premium
Buy This Article
Unlock credits cost: 1
Available credits: N/A
A local grower has showcased what appeared to be the longest manioc root ever grown in Tonga, capturing the attention of many.
Kepueli Hafoka of Veitongo posed for a photo with the vegetable and his family today at their residence in Tonga, showcasing the impressive approximately 10-foot root crop.
Footage of the crop was shared on Facebook.
The root crop has a normal length of between one – and three feet long.
It’s known by several names, including cassava and tapioca.
It matures between 8 to 12 months after planting.
The root crop is a staple food of Tongans around the world.
Manioc or manioke in Tongan, is an essential part of the daily diet in Tonga, and it is shipped from the kingdom to Tongans in the diaspora.
A New Catholic Church report revealed that the vegetable appeared to have been first brought to Tonga by a French missionary from French Polynesia in the late 1800s.
In Latin America, it is one of the most important crops for indigenous populations.
