Samoa Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries through its animal production and health division has launched a chicken breeding facility.
The new ST$190,000 facility aims to contribute significantly to the development of a sustainable poultry industry in Samoa to substitute imports.
While launching the programme yesterday, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Lopao’o Natanielu Mu’a said the breeding facility is targeted at improving poultry farming standards.
“The boost production and distribution will benefit the local farmer and to improve livestock industry and food security efficiencies,” he said.
The programme is also aimed at developing new knowledge and experiences which are relevant to increasing quality national stock for production and consumption complemented by accomplishing national food security objectives.
The Minister in his remarks also touched on the long term objectives set out by his Ministry as a guideline for this project realizing that as they embark on this journey, they still have a long way to go in order for this programme to come to fruition.
“One of the long term objectives of this project is to ensure the achievement of a significant yet realistic programme that realises import substitution.
Samoa is one of the largest chicken meat importers amongst the Pacific island countries, with annual imports and associated economic leakage costs, of about 10,000 tonnes of frozen chicken meat products and $20 million tala per annum, over the last 10 years.
It is also important to note that Samoa has less than 500,000 free range chickens at any one time.
The whole building together with its accessories were provided under the funding assistance from the World Bank through the Samoa Agriculture Competitiveness Enhancement Project (S.A.C.E.P.).
S.A.C.E.P. continues to assist in the development of Agriculture to meet the national economic priority objectives of Samoa’s Development Strategy.
Photo caption: Agriculture Minister Lopao’o Natanielu Mu’a (right) with Assistant Chief Executive Livestock Division Aiolupotea Tony Aiolupotea after the opening ceremonies.