Farmers raise concern over kava disease

KAVA dieback is rapidly spreading through kava farms and is becoming a major concern for Namosi farmers.

The issue was raised during a talanoa session with the Minister for Rural and Maritime Development, Sakiasi Ditoka, at Navunikabi, Namosi.

Kava dieback is a disease that rapidly spreads black, soft rot on the stem tissues of the crop, and symptoms appear on the leaves before the visible rot starts.

Farmers shared their concerns because the crop is one of their highest-earning incomes.

Farmer Ratu Luke Nasovea said more than 50 of his plants were affected by the disease, costing him a good amount in earnings.

Unaware of measures that can be taken to eradicate the disease, most of the farmers uproot the plant but replant suckers, which in turn breed new plants carrying the disease.

“It’s a discouragement to farmers; most of us are unaware of the precautionary measures and the causes, and this compels for agricultural literacy in the village,” said Ratu Luke.

Agriculture representative Asenaca Vaga said should there be any signs of the virus on their farm, they were to uproot the whole plant and burn or bury it. If the affected plants were not uprooted in a timely manner, the disease would rapidly spread to unaffected kava plants.

Senior Agricultural officer Serua/Namosi Inosi Vulawalu said the matter had been referred to the Ministry’s Plant Protection Unit in Koronivia.

He said the disease could spread through farming tools, adding that farmers should be alert to the planting supplies they received as some of the suckers may already be carrying the virus.

Mr Vulawalu said kava dieback had no cure yet, but the ministry was committed to educating farmers on measures they could take to control it.

It’s a discouragement to farmers; most of us are unaware of the precautionary measures and the causes, and this compels for agricultural literacy in the village

– Namosi farmer Ratu Luke Nasovea