Business booms at Naboro piggery

 
The piggery at Naboro has major expansion plans in light of the increasing demand from the market.

Most people may not know that the Naboro Corrections complex runs a piggery, one of the six industries managed by the Fiji Corrections Service and thriving under the care of inmates.

The other industries concentrated at Naboro are the bakery, joinery, tailor shop, poultry farm and root crops and vegetable farm.

At present the total piggery stock stands at 443 and they are as follows – 6 breeding boar, 10 mother sow, 41 pregnant sow, 2 dry sow, 13 replacement gilts, 113 baconers, 85 porkers, 98 weaners and 75 piglets.

Last year alone total sales for the piggery reached $61, 431.19 as compared to $4374.52 in the previous year.

Expectations are high this year that sales will surpass last years’ $60,000 mark with $29, 875 already collected to date for 2011.

Stock value as at July 1, 2011 stood at $103, 218.00.

Inmates responsible for the piggery have set a mission to maintain a commercially viable piggery in order to be a major contributor to the Fiji Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprise (FCORE).

In terms of execution at the piggery, there are three stages – the Intensive Breeding Program, the Improved Animal Husbandry where pigs are looked after in terms of hygiene, feed, medical and breeding cycle and finally, Better Business Practices.

FCS Business Development Manager (BDM) Raj Singh said the future of the piggery looks very bright.

“We are working on major expansion plans to cater for the ever growing demand for pigs.

“This would be in line with the Peoples Charter to grow sustainable commercial industry for food security while reducing imports,” Singh said.

It is envisioned that all six prison industries will culminate into the formation of the Fiji Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprise (FCORE).

FCORE is expected to be the focal point for all business activities connected with the Fiji Corrections Services’ rehabilitation programmes.


www.corrections.org.fj