Kava farmers

The Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access Plus Programme (PHAMA Plus) – supported by Australia and New Zealand – has partnered with Vanuatu

Training on pruning and nursery management will be offered to agents and key farmers to increase noble kava production.

They will also learn planting techniques, good agricultural practices and climate smart agriculture; village nursery development and management; and pruning methods to produce planting materials.

The kava cuttings of the ‘Kelai’ kava noble variety (nodes) will be delivered to kava farmers in the six farming communities.

Member of Parliament for Tafea Outer islands, Tomker Netvunei, who is originally from the island chartered the planes to deliver the kava cuttings.

The first chartered flight two weeks ago was loaded with 11 bags of kelai kava cuttings and the second chartered flight last weekend loaded 17 bags of kelai kava cuttings.

The cuttings were purchased from Sakapnoe Kava Farmers Association.

This was revealed during the handing over of project materials to create kava nurseries.

With the initiative of growing more kava in South Tanna, the Government through the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, has stepped in to support the farmers by donating 10,000 poly-bags, four rolls of large green nets and two rolls of fence wire to start kava nurseries.

This also includes 250 posters and awareness information materials on the noble kava varieties.

The farmers are led by Walter Kota, chairman of South Tanna Kava Farmers Association.