Kava farmers in Nadua, Wainunu, Bua are currently confronting a significant decline in production, primarily due to the impact of kava dieback disease, which is wreaking havoc on their crops. Farmer Rusiate Nevula expressed deep concerns, stating that this disease is resulting in the rapid loss of entire farms. Consequently, the local market has been affected as farmers resort to selling younger kava plants, which are lower in both quality and quantity compared to mature plants.
The kava dieback disease, notably linked to the cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), has a long history in Fiji, with initial recorded cases appearing as far back as 1934. Previously, significant outbreaks occurred during the years 1998 to 2003 and again from 2021 to 2023. Past research indicates that these outbreaks led to substantial price increases when export markets opened, prompting farmers to massively increase their planting efforts, often resulting in significant deforestation and a shift away from traditional mixed-cropping systems towards intensive mono-cropping practices.
Farmers in Wainunu are reporting extreme challenges, with Nevula emphasizing the desperate measures they are taking: “We are harvesting and uprooting young kava right to the mature ones. It’s really bad, and most of the time we bring less kava to be sold here at the market. So farmers need to harvest it before it gets damaged and dies out.” The situation has sparked calls for immediate support, as many farmers rely solely on kava for their livelihoods, yet assistance has been lacking.
While there is currently no chemical cure for kava dieback disease, farmers have been advised to adopt cultural methods such as intercropping and clean farming practices to help slow its spread. Educational initiatives are also gaining traction, with recent workshops focused on soil and plant health sharing knowledge with farmers about best practices to mitigate the impact of such diseases.
The resilience shown by the Kava farming community, combined with local efforts to promote sustainable cultivation practices, provide a glimmer of hope as they navigate these challenges while exploring innovative strategies for recovery and stability in the kava industry.
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