South Santo Kava Packhouse takes root
October 2, 2025 10:46 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook
By Nicholas Mwai.
John Olo Aru Medjin, a former President of the SANMA Provincial Government Council (SPGC), has turned his focus to farming and entrepreneurship with the launch of a new kava processing venture in Pelmol Village, South Santo Inland.
Mr. Medjin is establishing Palarausul Enterprise, a company named after Palarausul, a native Santo kava variety also known as “yellow leaf.” He said the choice of name reflects his goal to preserve and promote the identity of Santo’s traditional kava varieties.
“I named it Palarausul Enterprise because it is our native variety, and I want it to be known as the native kava plant of Santo,” Medjin explained.
At the heart of the project is a packhouse currently under construction in the inland communities of South Santo. Once complete, the facility will serve as a collection and processing centre for sun-dried kava, which will be refined into high-quality kava powder for domestic and future export markets.
Medjin said the packhouse aims to bring services closer to remote communities, cutting transport costs and creating new opportunities for rural farmers.
“We want to deliver kava processing services right to the farmers’ doorstep. This project is about ensuring clean, safe, and standardised kava that meets both national and international requirements,” he said.
Construction materials have already been delivered to the site, with work expected to begin this month after delays in September.
The facility is being developed with support from the National Bank of Vanuatu through its microfinance program, along with backing from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, which has provided a solar dryer for kava.
Medjin said the project will not only improve market access for farmers but also create employment opportunities in one of the most remote parts of Santo.
“Most projects are set up in Luganville or Port Vila, but I want to bring this back to the village,” he said. “It will reduce transport costs for farmers from West Santo and nearby areas who can sell their sun-dried kava here instead of traveling all the way to town.”
He added that the location is ideal, as South Santo is one of the main suppliers of green and sun-dried kava to Port Vila. The packhouse is expected to support farmers who face transport and infrastructure challenges, especially those living in isolated inland communities.
Looking ahead, Medjin hopes Palarausul Enterprise will break new ground by becoming one of the first locally owned companies in Santo to export processed kava internationally.
“Almost all the kava exporters today are expatriates. For us in South Santo, up to North Santo, Palarausul Enterprise could be the first to establish a business in the community, not just in urban centres,” he said.
Medjin also thanked local consumers in Port Vila, whose demand for Santo kava inspired him to pursue this initiative, and acknowledged the role of his partners in bringing the project to its current stage.
With construction underway, Palarausul Enterprise is positioning itself as a community-driven kava venture that could empower rural farmers, preserve Santo’s native varieties, and eventually take Santo kava to the world.
