NAMATANAI Member of Parliament (MP) and Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Walter Schnaubelt has launched what could become a viable poultry project in the district on Tuesday (Oct 28).
The project, situated at Kilak in the Matalai Local Level Government, is being developed in partnership with Innovative Agro Industries and the Namatanai Agro Industry, one of the business arms of the Namatanai District Development Authority (NDDA).
During the launching, Schnaubelt said strategic partnership with Innovative Agro Industries is already creating positive outcomes, with the construction of two chicken sheds.
“The first shed is producing approximately 1400 eggs per day, while the second shed is almost 2000 eggs per day,” he said.
“This is evident in that 97% of our chickens are laying eggs each day as compared to other similar existing establishments in the country.
“It’s a big achievement.”
Schnaubelt said once the poultry project generates enough money, it will look at the next phase of development plan, which is to build more sheds.
“After this, I want to go into producing chicken meat and have a hatchery as well so that we can supply day-old chicks to locals to raise and buy back for its meat,” he said.
Innovative Agro Industries representative Chris Prestwood commended the move.
“It marks the culmination of three years of planning and construction to a time when we are now producing fresh eggs for the people of New Ireland,” he said.
“The Namatanai Agro farm is a modern, efficient facility, enabling the birds to perform at their best, thus helps to achieve the best pricing in the market.
“The sales demand for our eggs is overwhelming and we are looking forward to the second production flock starting in January, 2024 with the aim to produce 200 cartons of eggs per week.”
Prestwood said Kilak eggs would soon be in available at major retail shops in Namatanai and Kavieng, with talks underway to supply the mines of Lihir, Simberi and a major wholesale company.
He said the Spirit of Kokopo in East New Britain has indicated its intention to also buy in bulk.
