May 23, 2011

Fiji on track to self-sufficiency in poultry

Fiji is currently 92% self-sufficient in chicken production, said Fiji's Minister for Primary Industries, Joketani Cokanasiga.

Cokanasiga opened a FJD1 million (US$564,684) commercial poultry farm, Amras Poultry Investment Farm, in Verata, Tailevu on Thursday (May 19).

Cokanasiga said they hope the poultry farm will contribute towards Fiji becoming self-sufficient in chicken production by 2014. He said once the domestic market need is satisfied, the surplus can then be exported to neighbouring Pacific island countries.

An average of 11 million chicken were slaughtered in the two registered slaughter houses in Fiji last year, excluding those slaughtered for obligations in villages, settlements and urban areas.

The Amras Poultry Investment Farm will be leased out to Goodman Fielder and has the capacity of keeping 35,000 to 40,000 chickens.