Two new refrigerated trucks have been added to the Fiji Meats Industries Board (FMIB) fleet in order to improve the efficiency in the abattoir operations.

The vehicles were handed over on Tuesday at FMIB headquarters in Davuilevu.

The Permanent Secretary for Public Enterprises Jitendra Singh said: “FMIB was allocated a total capital grant of around $410,000 in the 2017/2018 Budget, of which around $302,000 has been utilised to purchase the two refrigerated delivery trucks.

“This adds to the existing fleet of four trucks provided through Government’s financial assistance to FMIB in the previous years, currently being utilised for beef and pork deliveries.

“The additional two trucks will supplement the current fleet and will improve operational efficiencies and food safety.

“I have been told that the sole beef delivery truck in the west services twenty five butchers from Sigatoka to Rakiraki, and FMIB must begin deliveries early in the morning to be able to complete all deliveries by 5pm in the afternoon, which incurs significant operational costs.

“The additional truck will obviously ease these delivery pressures.

“FMIB has extended its services to Navua and now delivers to sixteen butchers in the Central Division alone. We commend the FMIB Board and Management for their effort in extending services to new areas.”

“The Ministry continues to place greater emphasis on increasing operational efficiency and productivity by Government entities. I am pleased to report that through this budgetary support, FMIB will now make significant operational savings (of approximately $15,000 per annum) which can be injected in other urgent capital upgrades required at the abattoir.

“Through this partnership, Government will also assist FMIB in enhancing national food security and complying with Food Safety Act requirements by attaining certification under the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system.

“The refrigerated trucks will assist in maintaining the quality of the meat by maintaining carcass temperature at between 0 °C to 5°C during delivery from the abattoir to the butchers.

“It is essential that the chilled state is maintained from the end of the slaughtering until the meat is utilised for consumption.

“The refrigerated trucks will ensure food safety given the high humidity and temperatures that is natwural to Fiji’s climate.

“The Government will continue to support FMIB and other entities through necessary CAPEX investments because they provide an essential service to the public.”

Fiji Meats Industry Board chairperson Joann Young said FMIB is committed to providing slaughtering and processing services in the facilities that are internationally benchmarked for safety, hygiene and quality.

“The FMIB will continue to respond to the needs of diverse markets through humane practices, technological efficiency and adding value to the meat and protein products,” Ms Young said.

“In order to attain this, the Board believes in constant business success and growth built upon customer satisfaction, high ethical standards, good business practices and concern for the welfare of the employees.”

“Meat quality tends to deteriorate due to the prolonged process from slaughtering to cooling especially when the number being looked at is over one hundred.”

“This can considerably shorten the shelf life of the meat.

“The new machine has the capacity of dehairing more than 150 pigs a day and shall be able to clean more than 12,000 pigs at the Nasinu Abattoir annually.

“With the increasing demand for pork and pork products particularly from hotels, it is imperative for the FMIB to ensure that its Abattoirs operate efficiently and hygienically to meet the growing demand for the clean and quality meat, for the increasing tourist market and local market.”

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