Kava farmers and sellers have expressed mixed reactions to a new Kava Bill, expected to be tabled in Parliament in June, following an announcement by Trade Minister Manoa Kamikamica.
Mr Kamikamica said the proposed legislation aimed to improve the quality of kava exports and ensure Fiji met international market demand.
For some farmers, the bill is seen as a positive step forward. Aqela Waqaitavalena, a farmer from Vuna, Taveuni, welcomed the move.
“This will be good for us farmers; we have been waiting for this for years,” she said.
Ms Waqaitavalena said the proposed legislation could open new markets, generating millions of dollars for Fiji’s economy.
“My husband has been a farmer for so long. He has his own buyer, and we are able to sell 100 kilos. We get between $30,000 to $60,000, whereas before, we couldn’t even make $3,000.”
However, not all farmers are convinced the bill will solve existing challenges. Some who spoke on condition of anonymity said the Government needed to do more to support the kava sector.
Exporter and farmer Krish Prasad said middlemen were disrupting the system, driving up prices unfairly.
“During my trip to Savusavu, I saw tonnes of kava and a lot of middlemen. A farmer sold his kava for $45, and the middleman resold it at a much higher price,” he said.
Mr Prasad said a regulated system was needed to ensure fair pricing for all.
“I’ve seen some farmers being pressured to sell their kava at a cheaper price,” he said.
The new law, he said, should ensure fair trade practices for all buyers and sellers in the industry.
