Biggest Broiler Contract Shed In Fiji
Organic Valley, a poultry farm in Sarava, Ba, is a success story.
Tropical Cyclone Winston had devastated the farm to the ground in 2016.
It took three years for the sole proprietor, Salim Buksh, to rebuild from ground zero and become the biggest broiler contract shed in Fiji.
Organic valley
The farm has a holding capacity of 45,000 chickens in one batch and holds 345,000 chickens a year.
The farm’s operation is normal as it continues to contribute to the local consumption market amidst the COVID-19 crisis.
Not only is it the biggest broiler contract shed, it is also the only contract grower shed in Fiji equipped with a tunnel ventilation system, an automatic feeder and drinker lines as well as an auto-cooling system.
Import Substitution and Export
Finance Facility
The Fiji Development Bank (FDB) through the Import Substitution & Export Finance Facility (ISEFF) financed the project in 2017.
ISEFF is a facility of the Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF).
The Bank financed the construction of a 2,250 square meter shed, fully automated tunnel ventilation system, and installation of power transformer for the shed.
With the huge demand for poultry products in Fiji, businesses like Organic Valley contribute towards the country’s GDP, creating employment and supporting livelihoods.
There are currently 22 employees on the farm.
“Chicken manure is being given free to neighbouring farmers which in turn helps them to grow vegetables and educate their children with the income they derive and meet families day to day living expenses,” said Buksh.
“I come from a farming background.
“My father was a farmer too.
“It was my passion to do commercial agriculture – I tried and I am successful at it.
“I also harvest 150 tonnes cane annually on my nine acres agriculture farm and utilise an acre for chicken farm,” said Buksh.
Poultry performance
Poultry is performing reasonably well in comparison to the beef and the dairy sectors that dominate the livestock sector but rely more on imports to meet the domestic market demand.
The industry with its demand is a contributor to achieving food security, that is, Fijians having access to adequate food of acceptable quality and nutritional value.
Impacts of climate change
However, shocks to the economy caused by pandemics such as COVID-19, social and environmental disasters caused by the impacts of climate change are just some identified risks that threatens Fiji’s food security and the subsequent access to affordable, sufficient, safe and nutritious food supply.
FDB assisting businesses
In light of such challenges, FDB is committed to assisting businesses build resilience, reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related events or other economic, social or environmental shocks and disasters.
“Following the destruction of my open shed, I had to mitigate more than just infrastructure risks and focus also on factors that previously prevented me from increasing my farm efficiency,” said the sole proprietor.
“Conventional open shed have varied performance but tunnel ventilated shed, though capital extensive, gives consistent performance and high income.
“This has contributed to increase in the farm’s efficiency as well as density, leading to increase in production and profit,”explained Mr Buksh.
For the last 12 years, Organic Valley has been operating under contract with Rooster Poultry.
This financing Facility, ISEFF, is focused on improving Fiji’s balance of payments position by assisting exporters, large-scale commercial agricultural farming and renewable energy businesses to obtain credit at concessional rates of interest.
FDB’s Acting chief executive officer, Saiyad Hussain, said that investing in such cluster of farmers that supply to bigger businesses allows FDB to contribute towards achieving national development targets aligned to food security, nutrition and promoting sustainable and advanced agriculture.
“The Bank is committed to providing financial solutions for such projects,” said Mr Hussain.
Feedback: maraia.vula@fijisun.com.fj
