Pentecost chief seeks Gov’t support to restore kava production
July 22, 2026 11:34 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook
By Hilaire Bule.
The President of the Bilmalvanua Council of Chiefs on Pentecost, Chief Graim Tevimel, is calling on the government to support large-scale kava replanting on the island.
Chief Tevimel made the appeal after people in East Pentecost asked the PENAMA Provincial Government Council (PPGC) and the national government to help supply kava cuttings so they can replant gardens destroyed by Tropical Cyclone (TC) Lola.
“The people of Pentecost are still recovering from the damage caused by TCs Lola and Harold,” he said.
He said the people of Pentecost rarely ask for assistance, and their request reflects the seriousness of the challenges they are facing.
Chief Tevimel said TC Lola destroyed much of the island’s main kava stock, particularly from East Pentecost to the southern part of the island.
He said farmers have started replanting, but it will take several years before the crop can be harvested.
“To multiply kava plants quickly, farmers need mature plants for cuttings,” he said.
“A four- to five-year-old kava plant can produce more than 20 new plants from its branches after harvesting. If farmers do not harvest mature plants, they cannot establish new kava gardens.”
Chief Tevimel said the government’s decision to create the country’s first National Kava Officer position and base the officer on Pentecost reflects the island’s major contribution to kava production for both domestic and export markets.
While welcoming the appointment, he said tangible support is also needed on the ground.
“It will be a waste of public money if the industry does not continue to develop,” he said.
Chief Tevimel said the people of PENAMA, comprising Ambae, Maewo and Pentecost, have cultivated kava using traditional knowledge passed down through generations. However, with kava now a commercial crop, farmers need support for large-scale replanting and infrastructure such as new feeder roads.
He said the current high price of kava reflects strong demand and limited supply.
Chief Tevimel believes that once farmers across East and South Pentecost have fully replanted their gardens, kava production will increase and prices are likely to fall over the next decade.
He said the importance of Pentecost to the country’s kava supply is evident whenever shipping services are disrupted.
“If ships miss a weekly service to Pentecost, there is immediately a shortage of kava at the Anamburu Kava Market,” he said.
“The shortages experienced in Port Vila are not only because ships are unable to service Pentecost, but also because kava production on the island remains low.”
The Bilmalvanua president said kava replanting is in line with a resolution passed during the council’s most recent annual meeting calling for kava to be processed on Pentecost rather than in Santo or Port Vila.
Chief Tevimel said ongoing infrastructure projects, including the tar-sealed road, five hydro-power projects, the Melsisi Wharf and improvements to water supply, support the case for establishing a kava processing factory on the island.
One of the hydro-power projects is located at Laringmat in East Pentecost.
Chief Tevimel also voiced disappointment that there will no longer be a one-day kava festival on Pentecost as part of the National Agriculture Expo, which will be hosted in PENAMA on Maewo next month.
He said the festival would have provided an opportunity for farmers to exchange ideas on developing the industry and addressing the current shortage of kava.
Meanwhile, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Antoine Ravo, recently said kava remains one of Vanuatu’s most important agricultural commodities, serving both domestic and export markets.
He said the department will continue working with farmers, the Ministry of Trade, provincial authorities and the Kava Industry Working Group to strengthen policies and strategies that support the long-term future of the sector.
