FIJI has 13 varieties of kava which are all consumable. The discovery of the varieties of kava was made possible through a joint effort between the Pacific Community, Ministry of Agriculture and the Pacific Horticulture and Agricultural Market Access. The 13 varieties are: vula Kasa leka;vula kasa balavu; dokobana loa; dokobana vula; damu; loa kasa…

The Pacific Export Context Analysis (PECA) is prepared annually by the Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access Plus (PHAMA Plus) Program.  It presents an overview of the social, economic and business conditions and trends in the Pacific Islands, including indicators that influence agriculture and horticulture export performance, and other issues that are critical for Pacific…

The PNG Women in Coffee Association via its strategic plan advocates a path towards sustainable, marketled production and differentiation. The role of women is gaining space and visibility as more women coffee farmers, businesswomen and women-owned agribusinesses are determined to contribute to a vibrant and inclusive national coffee industry

Coffee buyers evaluate the quality and consistency of coffee by tasting (“cupping”) production lots, and by measuring certain physical characteristics like defect count and moisture. Samples are drawn many times throughout the life of a lot from production through roasting for many reasons: diagnostic, marketing, contract validation, and to assess quality change as coffee ages…

PHAMA Plus has prepared a revised, special edition of the Pacific Export Context Analysis (PECA) report, to reflect the major disruptions being experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The PECA is prepared annually to provide a strategic summary of country progress, on-going constraints and opportunities for export market opportunities, particularly in relation to the horticulture, agriculture, fisheries, forestry and tourism sectors. The first version of the PECA was prepared in 2019 and the second in June 2020. The October 2020 special edition incorporates new information on

Noni is an important agricultural export from Samoa, providing income for more than 17,000 smallholder semi-subsistence farming households and contributing more than SAT$10m annually to the country’s economy. This study was commissioned to better understand the global market for production and consumption of noni and noni-based products. The resulting report is intended to provide useful information for Samoa’s noni industry (represented by IWG-Nonu) to increase competitiveness and recommend opportunities that add new value to noni and improve the welfare of Samoa’s noni industry, particularly smallholder farming

The Pacific Export Context Analysis (PECA) is prepared annually by the Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access Plus (PHAMA Plus) program to provide a strategic summary of country progress, on-going constraints and opportunities in export, particularly in relation to the horticulture, agriculture, fisheries, forestry and tourism sectors. This 2020 version of the PECA (the first was in 2019) has been prepared in a time of unprecedented disruption to domestic and international trade in the Pacific Region due to the COVID-19 crisis. This crisis coincides with

The Tonga National Quality Standard has been developed to make sure that kava as a traditional and commercial commodity, is prepared and manufactured in accordance with a set of rules and guidelines to achieve food safety. The National Quality Standard provides a set of minimum requirements, specifications and guidelines that products and processes should adhere to in order to achieve product safety and meet client expectations. This standard is aligned with the Codex Regional Kava Quality Standard for kava as a food. This quality standard

The Pacific Export Context Analysis has been prepared by the PHAMA Plus Program and provides a strategic summary of country progress, ongoing constraints and opportunities in export, particularly in relation to the horticulture, agriculture, fisheries, forestry and tourism sectors. The analysis includes information on economic indicators relevant to the export environment, trade and export performance, investment levels, business environment information and demography. It also discusses compliance and biosecurity issues, changing climate conditions and the political context. Information is included on the six implementing countries of

This poster contains information about Fiji’s dalo value chain and the opportunities to improve dalo quality and consistency. Producing quality dalo for export requires effort throughout the value chain. Farmers need to produce dalo which is of good size and even shape, without damage from pests. The dalo then needs to be transported to exporters quickly without damage. The exporters are then responsible for cleaning, processing and shipping the dalo so that it arrives in the export market with a good shelf life and at a

This poster lists important factors or the criteria used in the grading of quality dalo. Producing quality dalo for export requires effort throughout the value chain. Farmers need to produce dalo which is of good size and even shape, without damage from pests. The dalo then needs to be transported to exporters quickly without damage. The exporters are then responsible for cleaning, processing and shipping the dalo so that it arrives in the export market with a good shelf life and at a competitive price.

Dalo or taro (Colocasia esculenta) is an important staple food for Fijians and most Pacific Islanders. It plays an important role in Fiji’s economy as the second largest agricultural export commodity. The Fiji Dalo Quality Manual provides a one stop shop of technical information for farmers. It highlights best practices of growing taro with quality that is maintained along the value chain, for both domestic and export markets. It will also help stakeholders to better equip themselves with information and advice to advance in the

Tuna Market Intelligence is an independent publication, sponsored by the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) to unearth industry and market information from Pacific Island reporters and analysts. This edition acknowledges the PHAMA Program for funding a two-week workshop that has helped more than 100 staff members of SolTuna and the National Fisheries Developments Limited (NFD) of the Solomon Islands to use new sensory analysis skills to assess fresh, cooked and canned tuna. These additional skills help ensure their products are safe and of high

The PHAMA Program was launched in Papua New Guinea in November 2015. With a focus on addressing constraints to PNG’s access to international markets, PHAMA established relationships with private and public sector partners and identified key industry priorities to increase horticultural and agricultural exports. The program supported the establishments of industry working groups which bring private and public sector stakeholders together to facilitate international market contacts, improve networking and collaboration, and improve market confidence. This report takes a look at PHAMA’s progress in PNG.

Fiji is experiencing a second kava boom. Unlike the boom of the 1990s that was driven by European export demands, the present boom is fuelled largely by domestic and regional demand with a small but important element of exports beyond Pacific island countries. This analysis of the kava value chain is part of efforts to improve the consistency and reliability of Fiji’s kava production and grow exports of quality kava products. The analysis also includes a detailed study of gender and social inclusion aspects.

The objective of these Regulations is to protect consumers and facilitate trade by ensuring product safety and quality standards of ’ava and ’ava products for human consumption. These Regulations apply to ’ava handlers (from primary production, cutting, sorting, drying, storing, transporting, packaging, distributing, and supplying of ’ava intended for human consumption); ’ava and ’ava products; ’ava and ’ava products when indicated as being intended for further processing; and in addition to any requirements under the Act or any of its regulations on food safety and

‘Ava (also known as kava) plays an important role in Samoan culture and traditions. Conducted to mark important milestones, the ‘ava ceremony is one of Samoa’s most important chiefly customs and is a very formal tradition. This standard, presented in English, provides guidance on minimum requirements for ‘ava quality to all who make up the ‘ava value chain, including consumers. It stipulates guidelines for health and safety measures, including information on approved cultivars.

‘Ava (also known as kava) plays an important role in the Samoan culture and traditions. Conducted to mark important milestones, the ‘ava ceremony is one of Samoa’s most important chiefly customs and a very formal tradition. This standard, translated in the Samoan language, provides guidance on minimum requirements for ‘ava quality to all who make up the ‘ava value chain, including consumers. It stipulates guidelines for health and safety measures, including information on approved cultivars.

Vanuatu’s traditions and culture are inherited from generation to generation through “kastom” expressed via song, dance, art and various types of handicrafts. These handicrafts serve both practical and cultural purposes across Vanuatu and, with the growth of tourism in Vanuatu in recent years, have become a source of income for some of its people. For visitors to Vanuatu, handicrafts provide an opportunity to engage in a cultural experience and can be purchased as mementos. This guide aims to assist vendors to identify items of potential

While many families in Papua New Guinea depend on the production and sale of handicrafts for income, the lack of information about quarantine requirements or biosecurity awareness often limits handicraft sales. This guide has been developed to help artisans and vendors determine if handicraft items are CITES and quarantine compliant. A video has also been developed to help tourists make better informed decisions about what souvenirs they can and cannot take home.

Visitors to Solomon Islands can be hesitant to purchase a handcrafted souvenir from local producers, mainly over concerns that the item will be confiscated at their borders on arrival. This loss of trade affects vendors and impacts on local people, who rely on handicraft sales to meet financial needs within their families and communities. This guide aims to assist vendors and buyers to identify potential quarantine and CITES concerns for Australia and New Zealand, and whether particular Solomon Islands handicraft items are CITES and quarantine

Kava is an important agricultural commodity for a number of Pacific Island Countries, forming an integral part of cultural, economic and social life. Given the importance of kava to Pacific livelihoods and its significant market and export potential, PHAMA prioritizes assistance to the crop. This manual is a guide for all involved in the production of kava. It can be used as a tool to gauge progress at improving the quality of the kava. With this manual, kava farmers, processors and exporters can better equip

The Fiji Kava Standard establishes a level of quality that is applicable to all kava products used as food or food ingredient and/or other kava products intended for human consumption. Developed with the Fiji Kava Quality Manual, the Kava Standard sets a benchmark for farmers, processors and exporters involved in the production of quality kava. The standard also allows stakeholders to ensure a consistent production of quality kava products

Kava is a significant export commodity in Vanuatu, generating an estimated VUV807 million (AUD 10 million) in annual export earnings, and providing income to over 30,000 households across many of the country’s islands. PHAMA’s assistance to the Vanuatu kava industry is aimed at improving quality assurance systems and standards to ensure that market access into Europe and other markets is maintained. This standard is part of PHAMA’s efforts at raising awareness of correct production, processing and storage at all levels of kava production.

PHAMA has developed the Vanuatu National Quality Standard for Kava Exports into a translated version for the benefit of Vanuatu’s Bislama-speaking kava farmers and exporters. The standard is aimed at aimed at improving quality assurance systems and standards to ensure that market access into Europe and other markets is maintained. This standard is also part of PHAMA’s efforts at raising awareness of correct production, processing and storage at all levels of kava production.