A total of 114 Fiji exporters have registered and have accessed permits to the Australian market.
This was the statement made by the Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Environment, Viam Pillay while opening the 88 Kava Bar at the Vinson Plaza in Lautoka last week.
Mr Pillay said since the launch of the kava pilot programme last year, there had been several exporters that had taken advantage of this opportunity.
He said after five months of the programme, positive stories were heard of following the sale of the kava products to commercial outlets in Australia.
“Our kava exporters are prepared because they can now send their dried raw kava to be pounded and grinded in Australia,”Mr Pillay said.
“As at June 30 approximately 37 tonnes of kava were exported to Australia worth around $7.8million (AUD$139 shelf price).”
He said over the years, the total value of agriculture export increased from $68.8million in 2017 to $121.3million in 2021 while kava made an extremely important contribution to Fiji’s overall agriculture export.
He said in 2021, Fiji’s top non-sugar agricultural exports were led by kava with a value of $41.9million followed by dalo at $30.1million, turmeric $22.9million, ginger $13.9million, vegetables $5.7million, cassava $1.7million, chicken meat and eggs at $4.7million.
“More than 70 per cent of our rural communities rely on kava for their employment, consistent source of income and social obligation,” he said.
“Kava industry has provided employment to a large number of people in the informal sector and it has proven to be an industry with huge potential in developing more new employment opportunities.”
Mr Pillay said that Fiji exported around $41.9million worth of kava last year.
Story By: Nicolette Chambers
Feedback: nicolette.chambers@fijisun.com.fj