Kava (Piper methysticum) in the South Pacific

Summary

This report discusses kava myths and ceremonies, the relative importance of kava as a cash crop, the kava plant and its cultivation, and the diseases and pests commonly found in kava gardens. It also describes the main kava cultivars grown in Fiji, Tonga, Vanuata and Samoa, reports the results of field trials on the effects of shading on kava growth and yield, and compares the growth patterns and yields of 10 different kava cultivars in Vanuatu.