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A commercial pig farm was opened at Veiwawa in Navua by the Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Primary Industries, Joketani Cokanasiga. In his opening speech, Mr. Cokanasiga said that pig production in rural areas is wide spread and offer great opportunity as an income generation activity, enhance food security and contribute towards poverty alleviation.
“Pig industry is one of the well established industries in Fiji compared to other livestock commodities.”
“We are all aware that agriculture plays an important role in the economic development of our nation. The sector contributes an average of at least 15% to GDP and it is a significant contributor towards employment creation as well as economic development in the rural areas,” said Mr. Cokanasiga.
There has been significant investment in the Agriculture Sector in the past 3 years. For example, in the Livestock sector a total of six (6) commercial Piggeries with a capacity of 500 stocks per farm are already established.
Four institutional farms and more than twenty small holder piggery ventures are all located within the Suva and Navua corridor.
“Commercial piggeries on the whole – are well equipped with modern facilities and these enterprises have always sought expert consultancy advice to assist in their areas of production,” he added.
Mr. Cokanasiga added that currently 18 % of the total pork consumed locally is produced from within and around the Navua area.
A total of 17,448 pigs were slaughtered in the two registered Fiji Meat Industries Board [FMIB] abattoirs in 2010, this figure do not account for pigs slaughtered to meet traditional obligations in villages and in settlements.
“The ultimate goal is to achieve self-sufficiency in the year 2014. Currently, Fiji is 90% self-sufficient in pork production and the department is confident that this piggery project will contribute significantly towards the achievement of this goal,” said Mr. Tunabuna.
“Pig industry is one of the well established industries in Fiji compared to other livestock commodities.”
“We are all aware that agriculture plays an important role in the economic development of our nation. The sector contributes an average of at least 15% to GDP and it is a significant contributor towards employment creation as well as economic development in the rural areas,” said Mr. Cokanasiga.
There has been significant investment in the Agriculture Sector in the past 3 years. For example, in the Livestock sector a total of six (6) commercial Piggeries with a capacity of 500 stocks per farm are already established.
Four institutional farms and more than twenty small holder piggery ventures are all located within the Suva and Navua corridor.
“Commercial piggeries on the whole – are well equipped with modern facilities and these enterprises have always sought expert consultancy advice to assist in their areas of production,” he added.
Mr. Cokanasiga added that currently 18 % of the total pork consumed locally is produced from within and around the Navua area.
A total of 17,448 pigs were slaughtered in the two registered Fiji Meat Industries Board [FMIB] abattoirs in 2010, this figure do not account for pigs slaughtered to meet traditional obligations in villages and in settlements.
“The ultimate goal is to achieve self-sufficiency in the year 2014. Currently, Fiji is 90% self-sufficient in pork production and the department is confident that this piggery project will contribute significantly towards the achievement of this goal,” said Mr. Tunabuna.
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