Women can do all things.
And a woman shepherd from Sapapali’i Savai’i, Pipili Papali’i, is living proof of that. She was among farmers in Savai’i last weekend during the celebration of World Food Day. For Mrs. Papali’i, her interest in raising sheep has evolved from a hobby to a full time job.“It’s the best move I’ve made in years,” she says. “I should have done this a long time ago.
“It is just a joy to be with my sheep everyday ...they are like children to me and I love them so much.”
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Mrs Papali’i says she bought one ram and an ewe in 2008.
“I just wanted to give it a try. From that time until now, I have fourteen of them altogether. I’m really pleased about the progress and it is great to have this new kind of farming in Savai’i.
“People call me everyday wanting to buy sheep for feasts or fa’alavelave but I refuse. I still want to keep them alive and I also tell them ‘no’ as I want to increase my herd.”
Mrs Papali’i also knows there is “a huge demand for local sheep.”
But sheep farming is not easy, she points out. It can be quite expensive and a lot of hard work. “The interaction between myself and the herd is very important in maintaining a healthy stock,” she says.
“They feed off my hands most of the time. Unlike cows and pigs, sheep are very delicate, vulnerable and sensitive and they are easy to look after.”
Basically, Mrs Papali’i says there are two things farmers should look at in raising sheep. “You need an enormous amount of land and you also need starting capital to build fences and a sheep pen. The thing is they cannot sleep out in the open at night.”
“The buildings needed for raising sheep are dependent on the size of the flock, the climate, and when lambing happens during the year. Good handling facilities will reduce time spent on procedures and reduce the chance of injury to animals and handlers.
“The important thing to keep in mind with sheep diets and feed is balance.”
She believes that raising sheep can be a very rewarding experience and a great way to convert grass into food and other income.
“No matter how old I am, but I was born to be a sheep farmer.”
The Second shipment of 130 sheep arrived from Fiji last week. The shipment is part of the Ministry of Agriculture’s ‘Samoa Agriculture Competitiveness Enhancement Project’. S.A.C.E.P. is a combined support scheme by the World Bank and Samoan government.
It’s objective is to encourage livestock producers to; upgrade livestock, improve husbandry practices, stock management and improve the quality of meat sold in the local market.
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