The head of Vanuatu's agriculture ministry has suspended the issuing and renewal of all kava export licences, citing concerns that farmers are being ripped off by exporters.
Moses Amos says over the Christmas period, kava exporters drastically reduced their buying price for dried kava chips, in the worst case by almost 90 percent.
Mr Amos says farmers were told that the reductions were due to a glut in the market.
But he told Koroi Hawkins that he suspects farmers are being exploited by exporters.
The Director-General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Moses Amos Photo: RNZ Pacific / Heather Maraki
