The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Niuava Eti Leatiogie Malolo Funefeai, officially launched the Samoa Kava Growing Guide at an event held on 20 June 2025 at Tanoa Tusitala in Sogi.
The guide, developed in partnership with Samoa Herbs and supported through the Market Development Facility (MDF) funded by the Governments of New Zealand and Australia, aims to strengthen the quality and market readiness of Samoa’s kava production.
“This guide is more than just a manual,” said Minister Niuava in his keynote address. “It is a symbol of partnership, knowledge-sharing, and vision.”
He acknowledged the support of New Zealand High Commissioner H.E. Si’alei van Toor and Australian Deputy High Commissioner Claire McGeechan, as well as Samoa Herbs’ Patrick Rankin for his contribution to the guide’s technical and cultural relevance.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries led the community consultations and ensured the guide was translated into Samoan, enabling it to reach farmers directly.
The guide includes clear, farmer-friendly advice on site selection, planting techniques, pest and disease management, harvesting, processing, and export standards.
Minister Niuava stressed that the launch reflects the government’s commitment to empowering local communities, promoting public-private partnerships, and revitalising the kava sector.
“Kava holds cultural, medicinal, and economic value for Samoa,” he said. “This guide supports our farmers and signals that Samoa is ready to commercialise this important crop while preserving our heritage.”
Lauga
Lau Susuga i le Afioga Si’alei van Toor, Amapasa o Niusila i Samoa
Afifio o tatou Malo faaaloalogia, ma le mamalu i le au valaaulia,
Mālō le soifua mālōlōina ma le lagi e mamā.
O lea ua mae‘a ona seumua e le Fofoga o le Aso le atasina manaia e ala i Pa‘ia, o sā ma faigā ua aofia potopoto. E le toe āfea fa‘ava‘a usiusi i savili i se fa‘amatalaga, ae tau ina ou fa‘atulou i le taeao ma le aso. Tulou lava.
O lenei taeao, ua tatou auai fa‘atasi ai e molimauina faiva alofilima ma galuega sa galulue ma fita‘ituga i ai le tatou Matagaluega o Fa‘ato‘aga ma Faigafaiva, fa‘apea ana pa‘aga i le Poloketi o le Atina‘eina o Maketi (Market Development Facility – MDF) ma le Samoa Herbs.
O lenei galuega o le tu‘ufa‘atasia lea o se Tusi Ta‘iala mo le tami muamua, i le atina‘eina ma le galuea‘ina o le ‘Ava i Samoa. O se tasi lenei o tapenaga fa‘aauau a le Matagaluega ina ia toe lalaga ma ave le fa‘ataua i le fa‘ato‘againa o le ‘Ava i Samoa.
E le toe tau fa‘ailoa le tāua o le ‘Ava i Samoa. E le na o se oloa tau fa‘ato‘aga – o le ‘Ava o se fa‘ailoga o le tatou tu ma aganu‘u. O le fa‘avae lea o taligāmalo ma fa‘aaloaloga fa‘aleaganu‘u ua lauiloa ai Samoa i le lalolagi atoa.
O le silasila mamao fo‘i lea a le tatou Malo – ia toe fa‘aolaola ma tapu‘e ana measina mo le lumana‘i manuia. I lenei vaitau, ua avea ai le ‘Ava ma se tasi o oloa mo fefa‘ataua‘iga – e le gata i Samoa nei, ae fa‘apea fo‘i i maketi i atunu‘u i fafo, ma ua maitauina ai le tele o lona tamaoaiga o lo‘o fa‘amanuiaina ai le aufaifa‘ato‘aga ma o latou aiga.
O lenei Tusi Ta‘iala ua aofia uma ai vaega tāua mo le atina‘eina o se fa‘ato‘aga ‘Ava, e amata mai i le:
- Filifiliaina o le eleele talafeagai mo le atina‘e ‘Ava
- Ta‘iala mo le totoina ma le tausiga
- Auala e fo‘ia ai a‘afiaga o fa‘ama‘i ma iniseti
- Eseese o ituaiga ‘Ava ma le ‘Ava lelei mo le taumafa fa‘apea le auina atu i maketi i fafo
- Seleselega ma lona tapenaina ina ia mautinoa le saogalemu ma le lelei mo le fa‘aaogaina
O le fa‘anaunauta‘iga a le Matagaluega i lenei galuega, o le fausia lea o se ta‘iala talafeagai mo le aufaifa‘ato‘aga e lima ta‘ita‘i ai o latou atina‘e, ina ia mautinoa le lelei ma le saogalemu mo le taumafa, ma le gafataulimaina o mana‘oga o maketi i Samoa ma fafo atu.
E fa‘atuputupula‘ia pea mana‘oga mai maketi i fafo mo le ‘Ava. Ae o le fesili – E gafatia ea e Samoa ona tali atu i ia mana‘oga? O le tali, o lo‘o i o tatou a‘ao – i lo tatou galulue fa‘atasi ma le lotoifale e ausia ai fa‘amoemoega.
O lenei Tusi Ta‘iala, e le o se galuega na o le fa‘ataunu‘u, ae o se au‘upega mo le fa‘aaogaina – ia silafia ma tapena ai tatou uma mo nei fa‘amanuiaga. E leai se faiva e a‘e fua e aunoa ma ni fa‘afitauli – ae talitonu o le fa‘ama‘ite a le Matagaluega, ma le lagolagosua o i tatou uma, e fa‘aauau ai le tatou galuega.
E momoli le agaga fa‘afetai i le Malo o Ausetalia ma le Malo o Niusila mo le fa‘atupeina o lenei poloketi, lea ua mafai ai ona fa‘ataunu‘u lenei fa‘amoemoe.
E le fa‘aitiitia fo‘i le fa‘amalo i le mamalu o le aufaifa‘ato‘aga o le ‘Ava fa‘apea le aufa‘atau, i lo outou sao tāua i le atina‘e o le atunu‘u.
E le gata i lea, e momoli le fa‘afetai i pa‘aga uma a le Matagaluega ma i latou sa tofu sao i lenei taumafaiga.
Ia agalelei mai le Atua, ia avea lenei ta‘iala ma fa‘amanuiaga i le aufaifa‘ato‘aga, ina ia si‘itia ai le tatou atina‘e ‘Ava i se tulaga maualuga – mo se tamaoaiga lelei e tautua ai aiga, nu‘u, ekalesia ma le atunu‘u.
Soifua ma ia manuia.
