Efforts by local farmers to address the glut of talo in Samoa have hit a snag.Local markets are flooded with underpriced bundles of talo with some at the cost of $10 and $5; if it’s a really bad day.For some farmers, the next best option seemed to be to export talo to American Samoa, the nearest overseas market.But the future of that market is uncertain with the price dropping, numerous fees and with farmers again are being left with real doubts about the viability.At the Matautu wharf on Thursday, there were plenty of sacks of talo ready to be shipped off to American Samoa.For seven years, Tapu Oloaga from Falealili has been sending sacks of talo to American Samoa on the Lady Naomi ferry.“In the past years, the market was promising but I can’t say the same thing about its future,” said Mr. Oloaga.The farmer said talo was in short supply in American Samoa in the past, but not anymore.“People in Pago are starting to work their own plantations,” he said.“Just recently, their price on the talo has dropped,” he said.“And that is because the people there are selling their own talo from their plantations at a much lower rate and that leaves us with trouble.”“For us, it means that sending these talo is unprofitable but where else can we take them?”Mr. Oloaga said not only the price in American Samoa has fallen but the “numerous paper work and fees at the wharf” is not helpful.He pointed out that a pound is 50c which is equivalent to $1.00 per kilogram.Mr. Oloaga said the process of sending talo is “complicated, expensive and consumes a lot of time going from one place to another.”“For the 15 sacks of talo, I have to pay $1,600,” he said.“Quarantine also has a fee of $14 for the sacks, while at Customs, you are required to pay $10 for the paper work,” he added.“There’s a fee of $16 for shipping and the wharf also has their own fee.\“You would think the pallet would be for free since you don’t take it with you; it stays with the office but they charge $15 for using it to place your talo on it and then another $8.“After sending the sacks