Over $300 million worth of kava consumed locally in 2017

Fijians spent over $300 million on kava consumption locally in 2017.

The total amount of kava consumed locally for 2018 and 2019 are not available at this stage.

This was highlighted by the Acting Chief Economist of the Ministry of Agriculture, Sera Bose while opening the National Task Force committee Meeting in Savusavu.  

Fiji also earned $32.4 million through kava export earnings from 18 countries last year.

Bose reiterates that the government is targeting to assist about 10,000 kava farmers by the end of 2022 in recognition of the significant foreign exchange earnings it rakes in for the economy.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture has highlighted that from 2015 to 2018, kava was exported to 41 countries which shows that there is a market available and there is a need to increase the number of kava farmers in the country.