It might get better later, but taro for poi production is off to a slow start this year, agriculture officials reported Tuesday.

The Hawaii Agricultural Statistics Service estimates that taro for poi production in the first quarter was 1.1 million pounds, down 7 percent from the already slow first quarter of 2004 and down 24 percent from the five-year first-quarter average of 1.4 million pounds.

"Unfavorable weather conditions during the last quarter of 2004 and the first part of 2005 were mainly responsible for 2005's slowdown in poi taro production," said ag service Director Mark Hudson.