SUVA (Oceania Flash) — The Secretariat of the Pacific Community has officially launched the Fijian vernacular language version of a kava manual which was officially handed over to Fiji’s agriculture ministry top officials.
The handbook is called “Na Tei Yaqona E Viti.”
Its English version has been compiled some months ago by SPC’s agriculture program.
It covers various aspects of kava-related topics, such as its cultural practices, the botanical description of the plant, variety classification—there are 12 known kava varieties in Fiji and even more in Vanuatu—kava’s active ingredients, the kavalactones, analysis and expected quality and marketing standards.
The Fijian version of the book comes at crucial time. For the past few months, allegations of poor kava quality and a possible link to cases of liver diseases in European patients has cast a bad name of the Pacific’s most prized commodity.
Kava producers in the Pacific have since asked for further scientific investigations to be carried in order to formally establish whether these cases on Western markets had been caused by kava itself or by other factors down the manufacturing and distribution lines.
“This is a personal view, but on the information that is circulated internationally over kava, what I know is that people have drunk kava in this region, for generations. And provided it is not over-consumed, it doesn’t affect anybody’s health here. So I hope with more scientific methodology, we could do away with those doubts cast on kava,” said Fiji’s Permanent Secretary of Agriculture Ministry Fusi Vave.
She hoped the latest Fijian handbook could help demonstrate that the Pacific producers remained committed to producing the best possible kava quality.
Kava active ingredients are used by European and North American companies to manufacture anti-stress pills and related products that are marketed there as an alternative to heavy, often aggressive chemical antidepressants and anxyolitics.
Kava, scientifically known as piper methysticum, is an age-old natural plant from the pepper family. It has always been consumed in many Pacific region countries, where it is known for its relaxing effects.
It also plays a crucial social role in those traditional societies and is regarded as a symbol of dialogue, reconciliation and custom values.
“Kava holds a very significant place in the life of Fiji and other Pacific islands, whether this is used for social, religious and often political purposes,” said Fiji’s agriculture ministry director of research, Jai Kumar.
“Thanks to SPC, we now have a document that can be understood in the vernacular language of Fiji,” Kumar added.
“Scientists communicate within their scientific community, but it is important there is a book that translates to the people in simple terms,” SPC’s senior deputy director general, Dr. Jimmie Rodgers, said as he handed over the books to Vave.
He also stressed the important role kava plays for the economies of at least five Pacific island countries.
A similar vernacular version had earlier been produced in pidgin bislama for the farmers of neighboring Vanuatu.
“Another one is coming in Samoan language and then the same will be done for Tonga and the Federated States of Micronesia,” he said.
“In many countries of the region, the only other important document to be translated into local vernacular is the Bible. So that says a lot about the importance of kava: this is the livelihood of many countries of this region, with or without export potential.”
Rodgers also stressed SPC’s commitment to “the new challenges” kava producers were now facing.
“This is a challenge. We as a regional organization, with the World Health Organization and producers are working together to see it through.”
The manual is for kava farmers and growers, about 90 percent of whom are ethnic Fijians, agricultural extension officers and Fiji’s agricultural colleges.
