One aspect of the Government’s Economic Stimulus Package directed to encourage local kava production and sales.
Kubonitu holdings a locally owned company that buys and exports kava has received government assistance through the Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) this week in Honiara.
The assistance package was aimed at encouraging local farmers growing kava to increase their yields and also seen as an incentive for more local farmers to grow and sell kava.
We learned recently of the success of six kava growers in West Kwara’ae selling their produce for S$60,000 (S$10,000) each, and the sale of kava by a farmer in Guadalcanal having received S$38,000 for his kava crop.
The growing of kava and selling the crop can help local farmers provide for their families and especially help with school fees, often a heavy cost burden shared by so many families.
According to the Fiji Times, one of the key outcomes of the most recent Forum Trade Ministers Meeting was to recognise the importance of kava as an international commodity.
According to the Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Premila Kumar. this interest was at an international level.
“We recognise the importance of kava as an international commodity, we know a number of countries around the globe they are now opening up kava bars as an option for those who don't drink alcohol,” she said.
“From a regional perspective it is a very important agricultural product and we know the price of kava — in fact the past few years immediately after Cyclone Winston and other cyclones in the region, had pushed the price of kava extremely high.”
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
