Fiji Kava

Fiji's kava farmers urged to innovate to meet growing US demand

At last week's Forward Kava Workshop in Suva, Investment Fiji export advisor Shaneel Nair said Fiji's kava market needed to bridge a seven percent gap this year to meet the rising demand for kava in the US.

Kava made up two-thirds of Fiji's exports to the US last year and the island's government could help potential exporters, Nair said.

"To meet this demand, farmers need to be more innovative with their methods of farming," he said.

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With ASX listing, Fiji Kava sees medicinal future for drink

Fiji Kava on Friday lodged its prospectus for listing on the Australian Stock Exchange, which is scheduled to happen later this month.

The high-end kava producer says it intends to raise $AU5.2 million from investors at 20 cents per share.

Some of the money will go towards research for treating anxiety, insomnia and pain with kava, said its chairperson, Andrew Kelly.

"That will be clinical trials with humans and that will be done with varying extracts of kava, trying to refine the effect and the quality of what we are able to deliver to Western markets."