Fijians consumed $140M worth of kava last year

People of Fiji consumed $140M worth of kava last year.

This equates to 3,850 tonnes of kava.

These statistics were revealed at the ‘Kava Value Chain Analysis’ workshop in Suva today.

The Ministry of Agriculture led Kava Taskforce and the Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access Program have been analyzing kava producing areas around the country for several months.

International Economist, David Young says the analysis has so far confirmed that kava is one of Fiji’s most important agricultural industries.

90% of kava that is produced in Fiji is for the domestic market while the remaining 10% gets exported.

Last year 100 tonnes of kava worth $4M was imported in order to meet the demand domestically.

The Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access Program works with the public and private sectors to promote Pacific exports of primary value by helping exporters to meet trading partners.

Young says exporters that are supplying to the American Market are struggling to fill orders.

He has also put to the industry that there is a need for a kava sector strategy.