Opposition MP Simione Rasova has claimed in parliament that the proposed Kava Council in the Kava Industry Bill desires to extract the much-needed tax and levy of the FijiFirst government.

Rasova was questioning the wisdom behind the move to regulate Kava in the country.

He asked the government if the move was to encourage the kava growers or was it to continue funding what he claimed a cash strapped government.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Dr. Mahendra Reddy recently told kava farmers in Taveuni that they are working to support the sector holistically.

Dr. Reddy recently commissioned three Kava processing operations in Taveuni worth approximately $16,000 and says this was made possible through the Demand Driven Approach program under the Ministry of Agriculture.