Further drop in kava price anticipated

The Ministry of Agriculture is anticipating a further drop in the price of Kava. Presenting the audit report on compliance for COVID-19 to the Parliamentary Standing Committee, Agriculture Permanent Secretary Vinesh Kumar said the price of Kava averaged about $80-$100 per kilogram before and would decrease to $50-$60.

On a recent visit to Koro Island, he said farmers were willing to sell their kava even cheaper for $40 a kg.

“The current price for yaqona right now at farm gate price particularly in the island is around $50-$60 a kilo. For example, in Kadavu,” he said.

“We have been to Koro recently and people were saying they wanted to buy at $40 too and we are anticipating there would be a further decrease in price.

“After Tropical Cyclone Winston, there was a lot of effort done by farmers and the ministry in trying to see how best we could bring back that industry. So now the labour of that fruit is coming up and we are seeing that kava is maturing.”

He said the Kava Taskforce within the ministry and the National Committee on Kava held their inaugural meeting two months ago bringing together all stakeholders and chaired by the PS for Agriculture.

In terms of the price of kava, Mr Kumar said the ministry does not have control over regulating the price.