Farmers in Savai'i keen on exporting their frozen produce have been given a major boost with the Government announcing plans to convert an old copra warehouse into a packing house. 

Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa announced the Government's plans during a press conference on Friday afternoon, which means local farmers on the big island who want to export frozen goods and fresh produce will no longer have to travel to Apia to access the service.

She said the Cabinet in its meeting last week approved a request for funding to renovate the old Government copra warehouse at Salelologa as a packing house for Savai'i. 

In announcing the decision, Fiame also confirmed that the estimated cost of the renovations would be around SAT$300,000 and should be completed within six months. 

"To ensure that the preparation of frozen goods and fresh produce from Savai’i comply with international standards and costs of travels for Savai’i farmers to bring their produce to Apia are spared, Government has approved the renovation of the old Government copra warehouse at Salelologa, as a packing house for Savai’i," Fiame said. 

"This project will be funded by Government and should complete in six months, while anticipating approved donor support for the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries’ office and facilities at Salelologa."

This newspaper understands that a small packing house had already been erected in Salelologa, Savai'i at the Lui Residence. The packing house was opened in March 2021 and had been fully-equipped with the resources needed for processing frozen taro for export to the U.S.  

The project was made possible through partnerships with local farmers in Savai'i and the Samoa Agri-Business Support (S.A.B.S.) Project since 2020 and focuses on taro, ava, cocoa, coconuts, and cattle livestock. 

S.A.B.S. according to Facility Manager, Donald Leumaga provides both financial and business services assistance to eligible commercial agribusinesses, to expand their production or diversify into value-added activities.  

The Project is supported by the Asian Development Bank (A.D.B.) as well as the Australian and Samoan Governments.