A broiler processing factory for locally raised chicken has been commissioned at the premises of Samoa Trust Estate Corporation (S.T.E.C.) at Mulifanua.

The processing facility run by a local business group is one of the initiatives supported and promoted by the Samoa Export Authority, according to a press release issued on Thursday by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, La’auli Leuatea Schmidt whose ministerial responsibilities also include the S.T.E.C. visited the new processing plant, together with the Steering Committee of the Samoa Export Authority, Chairman Tagaloa Eddie Wilson and members Papalii Panoa Tavita Moala and Afoa Kolone Vaai of K.V.A. Consult as well as Acting C.E.O. of S.T.E.C. Natasha Kolose.

Franky Group Managing Director, Pitovaomaiana May Cai welcomed the Minister and the  Committee members and walked them through the new plant, giving the visitors a brief of its full operation from live broiler right through the cleaning, processing and preparing of the chickens right up to the packaging stage, ready for the market. The Frankie facility can process 1000 birds per hour from live broiler to packaging.

La’auli thanked Pitovaomanaia and his staff who were assisted by Papalii Panoa and Afoa Kolone Vaai of K.V.A. Consult to develop the project with the support of the Samoa Export Steering Committee. The aim of the project, according to La’auli, is to provide support for the $1m Village Development Project and for rural communities who will be encouraged to raise local chicken and supply them to facilities such as the Frankie processing factory and have them ready for the market to generate income.

Chair of the Export Authority Steering Committee, Tagaloa said he is excited about the project that aims to foster, promote and support the development of similar processing facilities at S.T.E.C./Mulifanua and the whole country to provide a ready market for farmers and rural communities and increase exports for Samoa.

Samoa currently imports 1,000 metric tonnes of chicken every month on average which equates to approximately a trade worth SAT$60 million per annum.

The Frankie processing project is one of many to follow that will not only increase agriculture value addition but also enhance exports to neighbouring and regional markets. The Frankie processing facility conforms to international food safety standards. 

The Export Authority aims to assist the development of such facilities as well as local manufacturers and exporters to have access to facilities to increase agricultural supplies; enhance and build capacity; as well as assist in enabling providers with international Certification as well as biosecurity compliance in the export markets.

The M.A.F. has also kick-started the process of amalgamation between the Samoa Trust Estates as directed by the Government and Cabinet in February 2023.