American Samoa Look at Meat Exports from Samoa

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA -14 SEPTEMBER 2022: A delegation from American Samoa is currently in Apia to assess local meat farms and production before deciding on exporting local meat to the US territory.

“The visit is a follow-up to a request we put in during the Atoa o Samoa Talks in American Samoa last month,” said Samoa’s Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt.

He said they reached an agreement with the Starkist fish Packing Company for them to supply leftovers from fish processing – Gukiga I’a as feed meal for Samoa’s cattle, piggeries and sheep farms.

“We returned after the talks with the first pallet of feed meal to test the almost completed Feed Mill facility at Nu’u,” said La’auli.

He said there used to be a market for local meat in American Samoa in the past and the American Samoa delegation’s current visit is not limited to meat but also looking at local eggs.

The delegation visited the Sunshine Poultry Farm at Tanumalala and the Ah Liki Poultry Farm at Tanuamapua.

“There is a potential market for our local eggs in American Samoa,” said La’auli.

The Atoa o Samoa Talks in American Samoa last July.

Samoa will host the next Atoa o Samoa Talks next month and La’auli said he expects the American Samoa assessment report then “whether to allow our meat and eggs to be exported to the territory.”

The Minister believes Samoa will benefit if American Samoa opens its doors to such trade given the distance between the two islands and the value of the US dollar.

Leading the American Samoa delegation is the Director of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Solia Mutini and the Chief Procurement Officer, Tuitiaalamu Dr Etuale Masunu.

Samoa’s Consul General to American Samoa Fata Brian Kaio is also part of the delegation.

The delegation will also meet the Minister of Commerce, Industry & Labour (MCIL) to discuss recruitment of Samoan workers under a scheme similar to the RSE with New Zealand and Australia.