There is a growing demand for kava in the United States (US) and other Pacific Island countries.
This was revealed by Kubonitu Holding – a leading kava buyer and exporter in Solomon islands.
In a statement to inform local growers, the national government and all the stakeholders who are supporting the kava industry, Kubonitu Holding said; “kava demand now drastically increases by 35%. The price increases is the result of short supply of kava to the US market and to other market in the pacific countries.”
Vanuatu which is usually the major supplier of kava to US market and to other Pacific markets has dropped significantly.
In considering this kava decreased supply trend, the management of Kubonitu Holding sees this as a great opportunity for the Solomon islands kava farmers to plant more in hundreds or in thousands for the three noble kava varieties namely kava FEO kava TEMO and the kava TAHU.
“These three noble kava varieties are now all grown in all the provinces and need to continue multiply them in thousands.
The new increased kava buying prices has jumped up to $250.00 pr kilogram which had taken effect as of 7th August 2025.
“Kava farmers needs to plant ten to 50 kava plants in every week that will gives them $2,500.00 per week when the kava plants are matured in 3 years time.
“For one plant the farmers can get 1kg to 2kg per bottom. The price will continue to increase for number of years because the production supply is decreasing and the demand is so high in USA.”
Kava plant is only grown in the pacific countries like Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Solomon islands, PNG and other small Pacific island countries.
Kubonitu Holding is focusing to work closely with all the kava farmers in Solomon islands and is offering the best buying prices that the farmers have to reap their maximum cash benefits to improve their standard of living.
Kubonitu Holding has adviced locals that if they have any land in the forest or lands that are not yet occupied by coconut and cocoa they can make use of them to plant kava now and enjoy its benefit later.
“Kava is one of the medium term cash crops that can alleviate poverty to our rural communities. If you have your children in secondary schools now you better plant hundreds to thousands of kava plants now to able you to meet your children’s school fees when they enroll to SINU or USP which the fees are from $10,000.00 to $20,000.00 per year.
Kubonitu Holding said, it is working very hard to increases its export volume in the coming years to prepare the country to graduate from LDC status by year 2027.
Since Kubonitu Holding established in 2020 it has so far exported a total of thirteen full containers of kava to the US market which has contributed $18.6 million to the Solomon Islands economy in the last four years.
Kubonitu Holding encourages all Solomon Islanders to work extra harder to increases our export volumes on cocoa, copra and kava to make a change by year 2027.
