15 Dec 2014

Vanuatu farmers worry over kava quality

10:56 am on 15 December 2014

Kava farmers from Vanuatu's Pentecost Island have expressed concern over a government decision impacting on efforts to improve the quality of kava.

The government decided not to table in parliament an amendment giving power to the government to take over the control of kava from the Vanuatu Commodities Marketing Board.

A kava farmer from Central Pentecost, Jean Baptist Buleben, says kava is one of the main sources of income for the people on the island and the government needs to help improve its quality.

He says Vanuatu must play its role to improve the kava available for overseas trade following the lifting of a twelve year old ban stopping exports of kava to Europe earlier this year.

The amendment was among bills due for debate which has been affected by the failed no confidence motion against the Prime Minister, Joe Natuman.

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Photo: RNZ