
ASG has a 400-acre cattle farm in the village of Togitogiga in Samoa.
Director of Agriculture Solia Mutini says the farm currently has 20 cows and more cattle is expected to arrive from Australia in the future.
Speaking at a hearing of the House Agriculture Committee, Wednesday, the DOA Director said the territory doesn’t have enough land for an large scale cattle farm, and the Samoa Government has provided the acreage necessary for this new development.
He said it’s part of the administration’s efforts to ensure food security for the territory.
The only cost the department has provided for the cattle farm in Samoa is for a fence. Asked about cattle feed, Mutini said the the grass is ample feed for the time being.
He revealed there’s no lease agreement for the acreage of the cattle farm land, which he described as prime land in the Falealii District.
Representative Vailoata Amituanai didn’t feel comfortable that there’s no lease agreement for the 400 acres. He said that any arrangement like this should be properly documented.
The faipule also asked why the Fono has not been made aware of this land in Samoa, and the government’s plans for a cattle farm there. Vice Speaker Fetui Fetu raised the same questions.
Vailoata referred to the ASG land in Tonga and said that, while there were plans for various developments, nothing ever materialized.
Photo: A cattle farm in Savaii that the ASG delegation visited during Atoa o Samoa talks last year/Samoa Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries