Government is targeting to assist about 10,000 yaqona farmers by the end of 2022 in recognition of the significant foreign exchange earnings it rakes in for the economy.
While highlighting this during the two-day Quality Standard Farmers Training for kava farmers in Saolo Village, in Wainunu, Bua, the Principal Agriculture Officer Akuila Nacoke says Fiji earned $32.4 million through kava export earnings from 18 countries last year.
Nacoke says from 2015 to 2018, kava was exported to 41 countries which shows that there is a market available and there is a need to increase the number of yaqona farmers in the country.
He says this is also a reason why the kava industry is important to government.
He adds the government implemented measures to ensure this target was met through the continuing Yaqona Farming Program budgeted at $250,000 for the current financial year.
The Principal Agriculture Officer says the Ministry had also aligned its priorities by assisting yaqona farmers through land preparation, providing organic manure, planting and farmhouse materials, building farm access roads and technical advice.
Farmers also heard from the private sector such as Lami Kava, Fiji Kava and Green Gold about their experiences during the training.
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