Kava farmer questions gov’t’s 10 million plants target

September 3, 2026 11:10 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

By Hilaire Bule.

A Pentecost kava farmer, Bob Bule, has questioned the Government’s progress towards its target of planting 10 million kava plants across Vanuatu by 2030.

Bule raised the concern following the Government’s declaration last year, saying there has been little visible action on Pentecost to implement the plan.

He said the appointment of the country’s first National Kava Officer on Pentecost this year is the only major development he has seen so far.

Bule said high kava prices are being driven by strong demand and a shortage of plants, with farmers now harvesting more kava than they are planting.

He warned that if the Government does not speed up its replanting programme, the 10 million plants target could fail.

Bule said buyers who previously had to search for kava are now travelling directly to villages to purchase it from farmers, showing the growing demand for the crop.

He also raised concerns about the shortage of feeder roads, saying farmers in some areas still rely on horses to transport kava from their gardens to main roads.

Former SANMA Provincial President and South Santo kava farmer John Olo shared similar concerns, predicting that green kava prices could soon reach VT2,000 per kilogram due to high transport costs and limited supply.

Kava was selling for about VT1,700 per kilogram at Namburu Market last week.

Both Bule and Olo said more feeder roads are needed to support kava farmers and improve transportation from farming areas to markets.

However, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), Antoine Ravo said the Government’s kava replanting programme is progressing well and the target of 10 million plants by 2030 remains in place.

Ravo said the programme began with planting activities between 2015 and 2019 on Santo, Efate, Erromango and Gaua, where the Government distributed more than one million kava branches for farmers to multiply.

He said kava production has also expanded to Erromango, which is now supplying Tanna and other islands in Tafea, while Gaua has started developing its dried kava market.

Ravo said these developments are positive signs that Vanuatu remains on track to reach the 10 million kava plants target by 2030.