Tanumapua Farm targets chicken imports substitution

17 September 2018, 12:00AM

It has long been under the Ah Liki Investment Group’s microscope for Samoa to reduce her reliance on imported food supplies.

And after years of research, the Group is on the verge of launching a massive and expensive import substitution leap in efforts to control Samoa’s reliance on imported chicken meat.

“That’s an affirmative,” says Tanumapua Farm’s General Manager, Leota Laumata Peleta.  “Before the end of the year, local chicken meat should be on the retail and wholesale shelves.”

Leota is already placing an order for 5,000 broiler chickens for the import substitution project. And with Tanumapua Poultry Farm hailed as the leader in the local eggs supply industry, all the needed infrastructures are in place and ready.

“The aim is to reduce chicken imports by fifty per cent,” elaborated Taimalie Charlie Westerlund, Chairman of the investment group and Tanumapua Farm owner.

 “Samoa imports 60 containers of chicken meat every month.

“The initial target is for our poultry import needs to be slashed by half and replaced by home-grown chicken products and by-products.”

He is using the success of his Tanumapua Poultry farm which, he says, now accounts for 75% of local egg retail.

“The egg farm is proof that producing our own chicken can be done. Our eggs are of a higher and healthier quality and, certainly much fresher than imported eggs. And prices we are offering are very reasonable too.”

But for chicken meat to take off, Taimalie says he’ll need to bring in chicken bred specifically for its meat.

Taimalie’s drive and passion is not going unnoticed with Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Dr. Sa’ilele Malielegaoi at the front line singing praises.

At the end of a recent Cabinet Ministerial visit to the Tanumapua Farm, Prime Minister Tuilaepa was more than impressed with Farm’s economic contribution to Samoa and also the import substitution initiative.

“The Tanumapua Farm has championed the local egg industry.  But it is not preventing Taimalie and his people from again showing their Samoan ingenuity with their chicken import substitution initiative,” he said.

“The Tanumapua Farm by the way, represents a small portion of the gigantic contribution by the Ah Liki Investment Group to Samoa through their business resourcefulness.

 “No doubt, the Ah Liki Group through its various business ventures have contributed immensely to our economy and government coffers through taxes but most importantly they have created jobs for our people,” he added.

Concluded the Prime Minister;

“Taimalie’s initiative also reaffirms Government’s strategy which emphasizes replacement of some agricultural or industrial imports to encourage local production for local consumption, rather than producing for export markets.

“Import substitutes will generate new employment, reduce foreign exchange demands, stimulate innovation, and will make our country self-reliant in critical areas such as food, security.

“I can’t wait to see the first Samoa chicken on retail, super markets and wholesale shelves.”

17 September 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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