Fiji lucky 13 kava varieties consumable
Fiji is fortunate that all the 13 varieties of kava are consumable, participants at the Training of Trainers Workshop on Fiji Kava Manual were told.
The Fiji kava industry is valued at around FJ$66 million per year benefiting over 21,000 kava farms.
Between 2010 and 2013 the kava production grew by over 30 per cent which doubled the earning from $3.8 million to $7 million.
More than 20 representatives from different organisations, including farmers, gathered yesterday at the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) in Nabua for the Training of Trainers workshop.
It is aimed at improving and maintaining the quality of Fijian yaqona and its production, and understanding good production practices, market requirements and demands. With the increase in market demand for kava, participants were told there was a need to better the quality of yaqona right from production through to post-harvest.
Vili Caniogo, Advisor/ Team Leader for Pacific Agriculture Policy Project said: “Better preparation of the kava industry is important because we need to make sure that the consumers are consuming safe and clean kava.
“We are lucky that all the variety of Kava in Fiji is proven to be acceptable.”
Fiji was also facing a problem of shortage in kava due to the recent floods and Cyclone Winston, he says.
“Kava shortage is also a good thing because it gives a high demand of this crop domestically and externally. We see this as a good indicator that this is a crop that can pay dividends and incomes to farmers,” said Mr Caniogo.
He commended Government for recognising kava as a quality crop that could provide income for small farmers.
Fiji Kava is exported to such places as the European Union, United States of America, New Zealand and South East Asia.
The workshop ends tomorrow following the launching of the Kava Standards and Manual at the Fiji Museum.
The manual will help and guide kava producers and suppliers in the country to provide consumers with the best quality kava that is safe to consume.
Better preparation of the kava industry is important because we need to make sure that the consumers are consuming safe and clean kava. We are lucky that all the variety of Kava in Fiji is proven to be acceptable VILI CANIOGO