Vuvale Partnership benefits Grass Roots Farmers

Fiji Kava has established a supply chain model that involves the establishment of a collection hub at Tutu on Taveuni.

The hub utilises nursery equipment received from the Australia and New Zealand funded Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Access Plus Program (PHAMA Plus) in a long-standing partnership to strengthen the supply of high-quality noble varieties of kava and support the expansion of high quality exports.

The commercial nursery will be used to grow select noble varieties of kava which Fiji Kava will procure from Tutu farmers under the terms of a supply agreement. Fiji Kava who processes kava on Ovalau in the Lomaiviti group has secured product ranging in mass

market retail channels in international markets including with Coles Supermarket and Chemist Warehouse in Australia.

Fiji Kava has recently commenced the rollout of its suite of products in the United States. The Australian Securities Exchange listed company formally commissioned the nursery on the 23 June, 2022.

Father Petero Matairau heads the programme in Tutu.

Fiji-born and Australian-based Founder and Director of Fiji Kava, Zane Yoshida, said the partnership with Tutu is a pivotal step in strengthening its robust supply

chain in Fiji.

“This partnership with Tutu is the first of its kind in relation to kava in Fiji if not the Pacific. It will help improve the quality of kava in the future,” Mr Yoshida said ahead of the signing ceremony.”

This partnership reinforces the Ministry of Agriculture’s fiveyear Strategic Development Plan, which is particularly focused on the development of a resilient agriculture sector and one that delivers economic opportunity and environmental sustainability and climate smart agriculture.

The CEO iTaukei Trust Fund,

Aisake Taito said that “Tutu is a well-established agricultural training facility for indigenous youths. Having been around for over four decades, it is a tried and tested successful agricultural training model.

We are delighted to be partnering in this pilot project with the TRTC, we will incaltrate the successes from the Tutu learning experience and blend it with our own objectives for commercial self-determination for our iTaukei and Rotuman youths, through our developmental partnership with Fiji Kava and PHAMA Plus.

Photo: Fiji Kava Limited From left: Phama Plus Country Director, Navi Tuivuniwai, iTaukei Trust Fund Board (TTFB) chief executive officer, Aisake Taito, TUTU Rural Training Center director, Fr Eparama Matairatu, PS Ministry of iTaukei Affairs Pita Tagicakirewa and Owner & Founder Fiji KAVA Zane Yoshida around the noble variety kava inside the newly donated nursery.