Samoa on Its Way to Reducing Chicken & Pork Imports

poultry

Reduction of processed chicken and pork imports to Samoa is the aim of a new World Bank funded project implemented by Samoa’s Ministry of Agriculture.

A poultry farm and a piggery will be opening in two weeks at the ministry’s livestock division facilities at Vailima, according to a press release from the Cabinet secretariat.

Minister of Agriculture, Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polata’ivao is quoted saying that this was part of a “new pathway developed by the Ministry to commercialize the pork and chicken industries.”

Samoa imports 40 containers of chicken every month.

The minister said the new pathway developed by the Ministry is to reduce reliance on imported meat.

He praised the efforts of a pioneer poultry farmer in Taimalie Charlie Westerlund, owner of Tanumapua Poultry Farms.

According to the minister Taimalie and his people have staked a foothold in the local egg production and are now meeting close to 70% of local demand.

He added that the primary goal of the Ministry is to support livestock producers to improve their productivity and take greater advantage of market opportunities.

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