Fiji is looking at establishing a fully-fledged Kava research institute.

According to Minister for Agriculture Dr Mahendra Reddy, this will be the country’s first such facility as they look to restructure the entire kava industry.

Speaking at a talanoa session with copra farmers in Savusavu last week, Reddy says kava is fast becoming a leading commodity in the country and they want to invest in it.

He says they want to ensure there is a standard quality of kava in the country.

“When you go to the shop to buy kava worth half kilogram or $2 or $1, you must know what is in there? You don’t know what they mixing now. We have to determine the quality and take absolute control of the quality otherwise the health of our people will be at stake.”

Dr. Reddy says like the sugar and pine industries, the kava industry will have a dedicated research arm, a dedicated extension arm, a dedicated marketing arm and a dedicated quality control unit.