There's are some big news in Tonga regarding the export of kava overseas thanks to the Tonga Kava Quality Standard which was launched recently. Even the PM said the earnings from kava is worth billions of pa'anga. 

Here to tell us more is Paula Mosa‘ati, the national facilitator for the Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access Plus Program (PHAMA) 

Paula, I understand you helped producer the guideline for the Tonga Kava Quality Standard tell us more...

The two main suppliers of Tongan kava, Vava’u and ‘Eua Island, have already heavily invested in planting. It's estimated Tongan kava could be sold for $150 pa’anga or $USD80 per kilo. 

The  Tonga Kava Quality Standard booklet was developed to make sure that kava as a traditonal and commercial commodity, is prepared and manufactured in accordance with a set of rules and guidelines to achieve food safety, for human consumption.