Seven key farmer groups in Vanuatu have been assisted with kava nurseries and seedlings to boost the supply of kava.
As a result of a national shortage in the local supply of kava, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Vanuatu is carrying out a nationwide kava restocking program.
Kava is a major export commodity in Vanuatu and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) is aiming to set up kava nurseries at provincial levels and farms to boost kava production.
Director of Agriculture and Rural Development, Antoine Ravo says the department is spreading awareness to help them produce more.
“Some farmers are not recorded but I do believe farmers are planting more kava out there with the awareness that was given out to them and the rise in the market price,” said Ravo.
He says kava benefits the rural economy and the livelihood of the people and contributes to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to achieve a stable industry.
Kava exports in quantity increased by 26% or 77 tonnes in March quarter of 2017 from 300 tonnes in March quarter 2016.
In Value terms, kava exports stood at VT 395 million in March quarter 2017, representing a decrease by VT 2 million from VT 397 million in March quarter 2016.
Kava exports constituted a 32% share of the total domestic export receipts in March quarter 2017.
A major challenge that the industry is facing is controlling kava that is entering the market for trades.
Ravo says it is difficult coming up with an efficient and effective system that can manage the whole industry.
“Maintaining kava standards for export markets, tradability of any risk identified in the industry, lack of resources to support our agriculture, field officers to monitor activities on the group starting from planting to marketing (value chain), and pest and disease control (medium and long term issues) are a major issue,” said Ravo.
“Currently DARD has a full time kava officer that deals with all issues of the industry. We also have a kava industry working group that oversees any issues with regards to kava development program in Vanuatu,” he added.
Ravo said DARD encourages more farmers to plant kava in all the provinces and it has set up a strategy that sets clear roles for each of the stakeholders.
The DARD mandate is only for increased production of noble kava.
To help the farmers, DARD has distributed planting materials, poly bags, and nursery materials to growers with available land to establish kava nurseries and boost kava production.
Kava is an integral part of Vanuatu society, symbolizing peace, respect and goodwill.
Important ceremonies are incomplete without kava either as beverage or as freshly dugout roots.
Over the last 3 decades, use of the kava beverage has evolved from being a social drink that village folks would enjoy to an established cash crop that is sold on the domestic and export markets.