CAPTION: Permanent Secretary Agriculture Ropate Ligairi opens the new facility.
What started as a backyard chicken egg production business in Baulevu, Nausori almost five decades ago now is now a thriving multi-million dollar entity because of vision, fortitude and a realistic business plan that innovated at each stage of its development process.
On 25 April, the Fiji Development Bank with friends and partners of Ram Sami & Sons, stood alongside proudly as the permanent secretary for agriculture, Ropate Ligairi officially opened their $1million automated layer shed facility at Wainadoi. This expansion follows close in the heels of anothermillion dollar revamping of its layer shed in Wainadoitwo years ago as part of the company’s goal to increase the daily egg production from 16,500 to 27,000 eggs per day.
Financed by FDB through the Import Substitution and Export Financing Facility at 5% per annum, the financing covered structural repairs as well as the replacement of machinery and equipment would improve automated feeding ofthe hens, egg collection and discharge of manure to bring the egg production capacity up to 21,960 eggs per day.
“Our relationship with FDB started in the 1980s and has played an important role in developing our family business which continuesto this day with our most recent investment in Wainadoi,” said Rajendra Sami, the managing director of Rami Sami and Sons.
Rajendra added that the new development was in direct response to the increasing demand for fresh eggs in the local and regional markets. The annual egg production in Fiji is approximately 68.4 million of which Ram Sami produces around 80 percent.The company supplies fresh eggs to supermarkets, major hotels, aviation catering service providers, municipal markets, dairy shops, restaurants, canteens, cafes, government and commercial offices and even barbeque stalls around the country. The company also exports eggs and chicken feed to Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Nauru and Tuvalu.
“We have to continue to be innovative in our approach in order to keep abreast with the best local and international practices by continuously identifying new technologies, improving the skills and knowledge of our staff, maintaining and increasing our supply chain and delivering quality products to our valued clients,” Rajendra said.
“We have a quality management system which conforms to the joint accreditation system of Australia and New Zealand of AS/NZS ISO 9001 and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) standards.”
Rami Sami pioneers, the late Ram and Waliamma Sami have left behind a phenomenal legacy. A hundred percent Fijian owned, the former backyard enterprise now specialises in the production, distribution and marketing of quality farm fresh eggs and poultry products withinFiji and throughout the Pacific.
“Our parents’ vision and hard work continues to inspire us to progress. We continue to strive for international standards as a legacy to our late parents,” Rajendra said. The 49 year old is the second youngest of 10 ten children, all of whom were involved in the business at various stages with Rajendra in charge.
From that single shed in Nausori, the company has grown to four layer farms, one brooding and rearing farm, one feed mill and a warehouse with over 170 employees.
FDB