Page 17 - IB FEB 2017

Trade

EXCLUSIVE Suspect exports under scrutiny as Fiji prepares to stop two-day kava

ValUe oT Fiji’S KaVa exPorT oVer The PaST yearS Vanuatu exporter

Country 2013 2014 2015
United States $3,061,878.00 $2,935,428.00 $3,776,359.00 defends product
Kiribati $2,336,450.00 $2,209,872.00 $1,944.958.00
New Zealand $1,405,329.00 $1,536,779.00 $1,270,733.00 By Ilaitia Turagabeci
Germany $56,866.00
Nauru $252,070.00 $248,000.00 $457,330.00 THE Santo-based exporter accused of
Source: AgTrade shipping tainted kava to the United States
‘ ... We have were ill-founded and based on “lies”.
has denied the allegations, saying they
Vanuatu Minister of Agriculture Ma-
to stop this
tai Seremaiah had recommended to the
Vanuatu Commodities Marketing Board
before the next
catastrophe (VCMB) to terminate the export license
of Peter Colmar’s Sarami Plantation after
happens ... ‘ kava scientist Dr Mathias Schmidt and
Vanuatu Ambassador to the European
- German kava scientist
Dr Mathias Schmidt Union, Roy Mickey Joy, expressed concern
at the quality of kava shipped to the US
from Vanuatu.
Kava nursery at Taki Mai on Ovalau.
Photo: Chris Williams The minister sent an instruction to the
overturn the ban using tissue culture for mass propagation Acting Director General (ADG) of Trade,
“We do not have enough kava in Fiji of noble varieties of kava to meet increas- George Burogu, recommending to the ADG
and Government is working hand in ing demand to ask the VCMB to take drastic steps to
hand with stakeholders to improve this. “It is an inclusive model, also working deal with the exporter.
We have a short, medium and long-term hand in hand with contract farmers Colmar told Islands Business he had
plan targeting the growth of the industry. “To ensure disease-free standardised evidence that the product he provided to
“These includes tissue culture of kava high-quality kava varieties. The research American suppliers is “noble” and shows
and setting up of kava nurseries around was jointly completed last year with Taki no trace of tainting.
the country. We want to open up the Mai and ACIAR. The Vanuatu Daily Post retracted its
market in Europe and generate revenue “We are also working with farmers article after Colmar provided evidence to
for our economy.” through the PGS program to ensure clear his name and Seremaiah has since
A $600,000 budget allocation has been farmers understand the importance of said “the results submitted to me will be
set aside to help farmers start new farms. managing their respective farms more like shared to our officials for assessment”.
Veretawatini said they strived to ensure AgriBusinesses. According to the Vanuatu Post article, in
that Fiji kava growers followed the right “This is important for us to ensure that an email to Ambassador Joy, Dr Schmidt
procedures.“Our studies have found out farmers also prepare for additional A accused Sarami Plantation of “shipping
that Kadavu produces kava with the standards and in anticipation of Codex.” ground, leaves and stalks as kava to the
highest level of kavalactones and we have Lami Kava Ltd, a major exporter, said it US…” He said it was unacceptable for one
recommended to government to upgrade does not support two-day kava. exporter alone to ship almost “60 tons of
road infrasture on the island so that we Managing director Donny Yee said non-noble non-root material sold as kava
can maximise on this commodity.” the company only buys locally-grown in 2016 ...”
Taki Mai, an Ovalau-based company in kava “even though the industry is going Mr Colmar denied the accusations, say-
Fiji that produces kava in instant powder through probably the most challenging ing the complaint by Garry Stoner, founder
form and as a refreshing drink, said it times”. of Pure Kava, a kava advocacy group, to
buys directly from farmers in Fiji and “We would not buy this variety when we Starwest Botanicals, a herb wholesaler/
regularly tests its kava root at production know that we have the best variety avail- retailer based in California, was based on
level to ensure its exports meet the highest able locally. Buying locally is supportive a chemical analysis, which he claimed was
quality standards. of our local farmers. derived from a 2015 test of the company’s
Company director Zane Yoshida said it “Government should give farming retail kava powder product.
was important for consumers to purchase assistance to increase kava supply and Part of the analysis consisted, he said, of
from reputable vendors to avoid being educate farmers on the importance of what is known as an HPLC chromatogram,
duped. acquiring good quality and consistent claims to show signs of chlorophyll A,
“As a company we are also looking at quality kava. And also regulate the quality which is only found in leaves.
establishing our tissue culture facilities of kava being exported so Fiji kava doesn’t Colmar said he was considering taking
and estate in 2017,” Yoshida said. jeopardise its reputation. legal action against Dr Schmidt.
“We are developing our supply chain n Continued overleaf n ilaitia.turagabeci@gmail.com

Islands Business, February 2017 17