29 Aug 2013

Fiji encourages kava farming for possible export

6:49 pm on 29 August 2013

Fiji's Agriculture Ministry is encouraging farmers to plant more kava crops for commercial use.

The Minister of Agriculture, Inia Seruiratu, says there is demand after a ban imposed on kava in 2002 by the European Union, was lifted in 2008.

Mr Seruiratu says Fiji is perfectly placed to supply yaqona, or kava, to pharmaceutical companies in Germany, the United States and elsewhere.

"We need to produce to meet the expectations of the market, and then the qualities and standards that needs to be matched and of course the specific requirements and there are protocols particularly quarantine protocols these are the preparations that needs to be undertaken."

Fiji's Minister for Agriculture, Inia Seruiratu.

Fiji exports kava to Australia, USA, New Zealand, Kiribati and Britain.