Efforts are underway to address a significant threat to kava production and export. The implementation of measures to reduce the size of large kava farms is being driven by concerns over kava dieback disease, which is exacerbated by deforestation.
This viral disease, caused by the cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), has affected kava-growing regions across the Pacific. In Fiji, the earliest recorded cases date back to 1934 during a period of extensive cultivation without adequate preventive measures in place.
Research indicates that kava dieback disease had a severe impact on the Northern Division from 1998 to 2003, and again from 2021 to 2023. During these times, rising kava prices—prompted by new export markets—led farmers to undertake mass planting efforts. This resulted in significant deforestation, as large areas of land were cleared for expansive plantations, shifting practices from traditional mixed-cropping systems to intensive mono-cropping.
To combat the kava dieback issue, local initiatives have been strengthened through a four-day training program focused on soil and plant health. Organized by Rohit Lal, a soil scientist from the Pacific Community, the workshop held at the Friendly North Inn in Labasa aimed to educate farmers in the Northern Division about the vital connection between plant and soil health.
According to Mr. Lal, the incidence of kava dieback declined between 2003 and 2007, likely due to lessons learned from previous outbreaks. Additionally, the closure of export markets contributed to a drop in kava prices in Taveuni, from FJ$50 per kg in 2002 to FJ$20 per kg in 2004. Consequently, farmers reduced their operations, scaling back plantations from large areas to smaller patches of around 1,000 plants.
Currently, the resurgence of kava prices has led to another wave of mass planting. Mr. Lal cautions that without proper precautions, large-scale plantations could further increase the prevalence of kava dieback. He emphasizes the importance of prevention, recommending that kava be cultivated within a traditional multi-cropping system in partially cleared forests, where it can be inter-planted with various other crops and grown under a tree canopy.
Symptoms of the kava dieback disease can be introduced through infected node cuttings from diseased plants, which may also spread within nurseries or fields. CMV-infected kava plants and surrounding weeds can exhibit a range of symptoms, with a single plant often showing multiple signs of illness. The initial symptoms typically include leaf mosaic, yellowing, curling, and puckering of the youngest leaves on the stems.
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