Efforts are underway to address a significant threat to kava production and export due to a dieback disease exacerbated by deforestation. This disease, linked to the cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), has impacted kava farming regions across the Pacific.
In Fiji, the earliest instances of this issue were recorded in 1934 during a period of extensive cultivation without adequate safety measures. The disease notably affected the Northern Division from 1998 to 2003 and again from 2021 to 2023. Research indicates that during these outbreaks, the demand for kava surged as export markets opened, leading farmers to increase plantings significantly. This expansion involved substantial deforestation and a transition from traditional mixed-crop systems to intensive single-crop farming.
To tackle the concerns surrounding kava dieback, local initiatives have focused on enhancing knowledge about soil and plant health. A recent four-day training workshop was conducted at the Friendly North Inn in Labasa, led by Pacific Community soil scientist Rohit Lal. This training aimed to educate Northern Division farmers about best practices for maintaining the health of their plants and soil.
According to Mr. Lal, the decrease in kava dieback incidents between 2003 and 2007 may have stemmed from lessons learned during prior outbreaks. A significant factor during this period was the closure of export markets, which resulted in a plunge in kava prices in Taveuni, encouraging farmers to downsize their operations to smaller plots.
Currently, a rise in kava prices has led to renewed mass planting. However, Mr. Lal warns that large-scale plantations established without proper precautions could lead to a resurgence of kava dieback. He emphasizes the necessity of prevention and recommends cultivating kava using traditional multi-crop systems within partially cleared forest areas, advocating for inter-planting with various other crops beneath a tree canopy.
Symptoms of the dieback disease can transfer through infected node cuttings from diseased plants, posing a risk to nurseries and fields. Infected kava plants can exhibit a variety of symptoms, including leaf mosaic, yellowing, curling, and puckering of the youngest leaves on a stem.
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