tribal1209
Kava Enthusiast
How much has the price of Kava gone up or down across the years in terms of USD?
There are lots of reasons but recently I've been visited by kava farmers and kava vendors from various regions of the Pacific who report 1. greatly increased demand out pacing plantings; 2. storms, etc. in Melanesia; and 3. it is worth learning/understanding that kava/'awa/sakau farming is hard work! Proper washing technique and processing are not easy either so it is better for the farmer, etc. that they make a bit more.If the price is going up why do you think it is? Is it done out of necessity or out of a desire for profits with increased demand?
Absolutely...a lot can happen in 4-5 years. Most of my family back in Eua, Tonga feel this way too. They'll farm enough Kava on excess land as a true cash crop and focus most of the farmland on a quicker turnaround options like Kalo and Manioka. With such limited land in Tonga...I get why they have to think this way.I personally know three Fijian farmers who harvested their last kava in 2016 and have turned their back on the crop altogether. In all three cases it was due to them being fed up with theft, which has risen dramatically since Cyclone Winston caused prices to rise.
You tend to a field for years, dreaming of the house you'll build or of sending your kids to university. A tropical cyclone comes along and damages part of it. Luckily most of it was only defoliated. Prices rise as other kava farmers were even less lucky and had their crop destroyed, leading to a shortage. Then the pilfering starts. Soon half your crop is gone, with losses of USD$90,000+.
You decide you've had enough. The tears aren't worth it. You'll stick to farming taro.
It's a serious problem. The higher prices are a double-edged sword for farmers.
Mildly Interesting Kava Fact™️️: The current President of the UN started a kava farm when he was posted to Taveuni Island as a civil servant in the 70's. He didn't get a single shell of kava out of it; the entire crop grew legs and walked off in the night. And that was before kava was a significant commercial crop in Fiji.
Do you hear that Kava vendors? Keep your prices low or the kava farmer gets shafted!I personally know three Fijian farmers who harvested their last kava in 2016 and have turned their back on the crop altogether. In all three cases it was due to them being fed up with theft, which has risen dramatically since Cyclone Winston caused prices to rise.
You tend to a field for years, dreaming of the house you'll build or of sending your kids to university. A tropical cyclone comes along and damages part of it. Luckily most of it was only defoliated. Prices rise as other kava farmers were even less lucky and had their crop destroyed, leading to a shortage. Then the pilfering starts. Soon half your crop is gone, with losses of USD$90,000+.
You decide you've had enough. The tears aren't worth it. You'll stick to farming taro.
It's a serious problem. The higher prices are a double-edged sword for farmers.
Mildly Interesting Kava Fact™️️: The current President of the UN started a kava farm when he was posted to Taveuni Island as a civil servant in the 70's. He didn't get a single shell of kava out of it; the entire crop grew legs and walked off in the night. And that was before kava was a significant commercial crop in Fiji.
I overlooked that problem, which has been here in Hawai'i also. Are some Kava farmers in Fiji able to have their homes by their Farms?I personally know three Fijian farmers who harvested their last kava in 2016 and have turned their back on the crop altogether. In all three cases it was due to them being fed up with theft, which has risen dramatically since Cyclone Winston caused prices to rise.
You tend to a field for years, dreaming of the house you'll build or of sending your kids to university. A tropical cyclone comes along and damages part of it. Luckily most of it was only defoliated. Prices rise as other kava farmers were even less lucky and had their crop destroyed, leading to a shortage. Then the pilfering starts. Soon half your crop is gone, with losses of USD$90,000+.
You decide you've had enough. The tears aren't worth it. You'll stick to farming taro.
It's a serious problem. The higher prices are a double-edged sword for farmers.
Mildly Interesting Kava Fact™️️: The current President of the UN started a kava farm when he was posted to Taveuni Island as a civil servant in the 70's. He didn't get a single shell of kava out of it; the entire crop grew legs and walked off in the night. And that was before kava was a significant commercial crop in Fiji.
What's your point ? You could drink all 30 of them and not even remember the 30 seconds where you felt almost as good as a couple of good shells makes you.However one can buy 30 Bud lights at your local grocery store, for $16. Or hell even a 40 or tall can for super cheap as well.
Where's my $1.50 can of 9% Malt Kava?
Indo-fijian smallholder farmers sometimes grow kava near their homes, yes, but it's not that common. Usually areas near the home are used for market/vegetable crops that need to be watered and tended to daily.Are some Kava farmers in Fiji able to have their homes by their Farms?
We posted about this a few months ago. https://blog.bulakavahouse.com/2016/09/30/current-kava-shortage-means-customers/Do you hear that Kava vendors? Keep your prices low or the kava farmer gets shafted!