Rising demand for kava drives up prices and causes supply shortages across local markets.
Savusavu Market vendor Ram Kumar stresses that kava is used as a medicine to treat many illnesses, and due to high demand, it is now being harvested as early as one year and six months, leading to a shortage.
Kumar explains that they currently purchase number 1 waka for $150 and number 2 for $140.
He adds that, as a vendor, he is among the most affected, as the kava cut pieces he used to buy for $6 to $7 now cost him around $60.
Kumar says there is almost no profit left for him after paying taxes.
