There will be a shortage of kava supply to the local market from next month.

The Agriculture Ministry has confirmed that majority of the areas that provide kava to the local and export market was affected by TC Winston.

PS Agriculture Uraia Waibuta told FBC News all the kava plants in Koro, Taveuni and parts of Ra have been wiped out.

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He adds in some of the affected areas, farmers are currently harvesting what’s left, drying it and selling it to local markets.

Come next month, Waibuta says there will be a drastic drop in kava production.

“But expect that in a month’s time, we shouldn’t be seeing anymore Yaqona coming out from these areas. So yes Yaqona price will drop. The prices will drop for the time being because we will be flooding the market but after that then we should see a drastic increase in the prices because bulk of the areas sending yaqona into the markets has been affected.”

Waibuta says Kadavu, Serua, Namosi and parts of Naitasiri and Tailevu can still supply kava into the local market as they were not severely affected.

The Agriculture Ministry has confirmed that Kava was the most affected losing around $116 million.