Page 37 - Islands Business March 2024

Agriculture Agriculture

the earnings of the floundering sugar industry, with figures the Pacific region.”
from 2022 showing exports exceeding FJ$40 million. The regional strategy, developed through extensive
In an interview with The Fiji Times, Kamikamica highlighted consultations from 2022 to 2023, prioritises six key areas:
the potential for expansion into European, UK, and Chinese institutional support, ecological farming practices, regional
markets, with the European Union recently expressing interest collaboration, market development, product diversification,
in lifting the ban on kava exports. and intellectual property protection. The final strategy is
“The government is also exploring ways to optimise benefits due to be presented to Forum members within weeks, and
for local farmers, potentially centralising kava supply under implementation plans discussed.
cooperatives,” said Kamikamica. According to Matariki, the strategy seeks to elevate the
“Kava is potentially a billion-dollar industry for Fiji... If we kava industry into a resilient, robust, and high-quality
play our cards right, there should be a bit of a boom in the economic sector, while also addressing the challenges
kava industry in the years to come.” stemming from regulatory changes, quality control issues, and
The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat’s (PIFS) regional kava fluctuating market demand.
development strategy aims to drive economic growth in the Aligned with the broader regional agenda outlined in the
industry and anticipates continued high demand. It eyes Blue Pacific 2050 Strategy, sustainability is a focus, with
major global markets across Australia, New Zealand, the Matariki saying: “We aim to blend traditional wisdom with
United States, and the European Union. modern innovations to ensure the longevity of our kava
PIFS trade policy officer, Sapai Moana Matariki, said: “The industry. This includes addressing climate change impacts and
vision is to uphold our cultural heritage while fostering a fostering dialogue for collective action.”
resilient and high-quality kava industry for the prosperity of Forum member, Solomon Islands, has recently established

Islands Business, March 2024 37