Seinwar Students Study Pohnpei Bananas

by Dr. Lois Englberger

On 10 February, 2005, the Class Six students of Seinwar Primary School met for their second session on learning about Pohnpei bananas, as a part of the Conservation Society of Pohnpei (CSP) Youth-to-Youth project. Three students, Ramcy Predrick, Sweetlynn Barnabas, and Elias Ioanis, were particularly happy, as they won Sight and Life bags, the prizes for naming the greatest number of different Pohnpei bananas.

The overall project aim is to increase awareness of the diversity and values of Pohnpei banana varieties, in particular rare ones like Utin Iap, Karat, Mangat, Ihpali, Akadahn, and Akadahn Weitahta, which are yellow- or orange-fleshed and have a high content of provitamin A carotenoids. Consumption of these bananas helps protect against diabetes, heart disease, cancer, vitamin A deficiency, and anemia (weak blood). A long-term aim is to increase the production, availability and consumption of these bananas.

Each of the prize-winning students listed 13 different Pohnpei banana varieties, writing the names on a piece of paper as a classroom exercise (no discussion allowed!). Karat, Taiwang, Utin Kuam (Utin Menihle), Utin Ruk, Inahsio, and Utin Pihsi were the most commonly named varieties. Other varieties named included: Akadahn, Utin Kerenis, Utin Lihli, Utin Rais, Uht Kapakap, Preisihl, Utin Wai, Dukuru, and Kaimana. On average, the 36 students named 7 varieties.

Utin Iap, the variety containing the highest level of provitamin A carotenoids of all Pohnpei bananas, was only listed by one student. Karat en Iap, Utiak, and Peleu, other Pohnpei bananas that are very rich in this nutrient, were not listed by any student.

Part of the lesson including learning about the analyses of Pohnpei bananas carried out in laboratories around the world, including those in Hawaii, Australia, Fiji, and Switzerland. Students were explained that the analyses carried out in Switzerland were provided as part of the Sight and Life assistance to vitamin A work in Pohnpei. They also learned that the Sight and Life logo on the prize bags represents the eyeball and vitamin A, as a symbol of the importance of vitamin A for vision and eye health.

Their present assignment is to talk to their parents and others, writing down about all the varieties that they know and their characteristics. Benjamin Saimon, class instructor, encouraged students to work hard on the project and said this: "I think it is important that the students learn about our bananas."

Those facilitating the class included Ben Namakin and Nick Donre of CSP and Dr. Lois Englberger and Amy Levendusky, of the Island Food Community of Pohnpei. Monthly classes will continue up to May, culminating with the CSP Youth-to-Youth Fair at which time students will make a display of information on Pohnpei bananas.

Thanks are extended to Sight and Life of Switzerland for the cloth bag prizes.