ALM UNDP

Summary:

Traditional free-range, backyard chicken production results in heavy losses (eaten by dogs and pigs) and low production of eggs and chicken meat. Rural communities are spending increasing amounts of money on low quality, imported food products (mutton flaps, turkey tails, etc). The reduction in import taxes, as a result of Samoa’s tariff reform programme in preparation for the WTO accession, has led to a huge increase in imported food products. Many of these have low nutritional value and pose health risks to Samoans who are increasing their consumption of high sugar, high fat foods. The aim of this project is to encourage rural communities to refocus on producing traditional foods. Raising chickens with a permaculture farming system is one way of doing this. It is also anticipated that this will be an organic production system and the resulting surplus products for sale will achieve higher prices from health conscious consumers, and from the popular backyard/free-range chicken flavour most sought for by consumers.