Jimione Biumaiwai has been a kava farmer for 13 years.

Yesterday he became one of the first recipients of kava seedlings from the newly-opened Koronivia Smart Nursery, an assistance that would surely boost his business.

Mr Biumaiwai said he made his first harvest of kava right before Tropical Cyclone Winston and with that he was able to buy two trucks.

Additionally, he managed to send his children to school and provide a sustainable livelihood for his family.

Now the Colo-i-Suva-based farmer wants to expand and the Koronivia Smart Nursery is providing that avenue.

“I’m not only concentrating on kava but also on other commodities such as cassava, coconut, dalo and ginger for export purposes,” the 55-year-old said.

The nursery that was officially opened by the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama at the Koronivia Research Station at the cost of $330,000.

It was funded by the Canadian government.

Mr Biumaiwai said: “This is the first time for me to receive any assistance from the Ministry of Agriculture and it has inspired me to expand my yaqona farm.”

Significance
Minister for Agriculture Mahendra Reddy said the opening of the Smart Nursery marked an important event of the Ministry Agriculture’s calendar.

Mr Reddy said the ministry has 76 agriculture stations around the country.

“The Research Station focuses on generation of new technologies through crop improvement, farming systems and climate adaptation research,”Mr Reddy said.

“One of the major activities is to also produce seeds and planting materials for various crops.”

More on Kava:

Kava Tops Non-Sugar Exports: Reddy

Fiji Kava Unveils $2m Fijian Investment

Kava Company To Export Just A Year After Launch

Kava Labelling Up Next in Talks for Exports to Aust

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