The problem of feral or wild pigs has been troubling many farmers in Samoa. According to the Agriculture Census 2020, there are 26,776 households actively involved in agriculture, and over 60% of them have identified feral pigs as the main challenge to their crop farms for more than ten years. This issue has been discussed at high levels, including Cabinet meetings, due to the loss of crops and the decline in production of major crops like taro, primarily caused by the increasing number of feral pigs.
To tackle this problem, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries decided to introduce pig traps. The first pig traps in Samoa were launched on October 3, 2023, in Savaii. This project, fully funded by the Australian government (MDF), provided two traps to test their effectiveness in Sapapalii and Satupaitea. In April this year, 10 additional traps were launched, funded by the Scientific Research of Samoa, and are planned to be installed in selected districts and villages in Upolu.
Continuous inspections and monitoring by MAF and village committees have shown an 80 to 90 percent success rate with these traps. Photos and videos from the traps have shown that a single trap can hold up to 20 pigs. An infrared camera is also set up on the trap or a nearby tree to monitor pig activity around the clock.
The traps are double-walled and heavy-duty, featuring a 20-foot long base net with a dynamic drop strength of more than 8,000-foot-pounds, and a vinyl-coated easy pull cable seam for easy operation. A 2-foot wide trap cap that can be clipped or sewn in covers about 30% of the net opening to keep the pigs inside. The success of these traps depends heavily on their placement. A manual guide has been created to help with the proper installation and use of pig traps, and to ensure collaboration with district Fono Fa’avae Offices for monitoring and maintenance.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries plans to acquire more traps through various projects to enhance the effectiveness of this initiative. Additionally, the Ministry strongly advises and encourages farmers to raise pigs in enclosed pens or fenced areas to further reduce the risks posed by feral pigs.
Tusia i le gagana Samoa mai i le mālo
Mailei mo Pua’a Aivao
O le a’afia ai o fa’ato’aga ma meatotō ona o pua’a aivao, e leo se fa’afitauli fou ma ua maitauina lona fa’ateteleina i nei ona po. E tusa ai ma fa’amaumauga mai le Agriculture Census 2020, o lo’o fa’amauina ai le oo atu i le 26,776 o aiga Samoa o lo’o galueina pea le ’ele’ele e ala i taumafa totō ma atina’e tau fa’ato’aga. E sili atu ma le 60% o nei aiga ua mautinoa le a’afia o a latou atina’e ae maise o lo latou ola galulue ona o lenei fa’afitauli numera tasi i le tele o tausaga ua mavae.
O le ogaoga ai o lenei mataupu na afua ai ona talanoaina ma fa’asoaina i le Kapeneta ona o a’afiaga e lē gata i le pa’ū maualalo ai o le fuainumera o fua o fa’a’ele’eleaga e fa’amauina i tausaga uma, a’o fesuiaiga i le lelei ma le matua fa’atulagaina o talo ma isi oloa mo le fofoga taumafa aemaise mo maketi. O nei suiga ma fa’afitauli e āfua mai i le fa’aleagaina e meatua’olo ma pua’a aivao o fa’atoaga i le si’itia ai o lona faitauaofa’i.
O le mafua’aga lea o le saili fofō ai o le Matagaluega o Fa’atoaga ma Faigafavia, ma fa’alauiloaina ai loa le fa’aaogaina o mailei pua’a. I le faiga pa’aga a le Malo o Samoa faapea le Malo o Ausetalia ma NiuSila e tauala mai i le poloketi o le Market Development Facilities (MDF), ua mafai ai ona tau’a’aoina ai nei fesoasoani mo le fofōina o lenei fa’afitauli.
E lua (2) mailei na mua’i taunu’u i le Tausaga 2023 ma fa’apipi’iina i Sapapali’i ma Satupa’itea. O le tausaga nei, (2024) i le masina o Aperila, na taunu’u ai i le Atunuu le isi sefulu (10) ma mailei fa’aopoopo, mai lalo o le Fa’alapotopotoga o Suesuega Fa’asaienisi i Samoa (SROS), ma ua mae’a foi ona tōfia Itumalo ma Afio’aga o le’ā muamua iai le fesoasoani.
Ua fa’amauina i sa’ili’iliga ma mata’ituina e le Matagaluega fa’atasi ai ma le lagolago mai ofisa o Fono Fa’avae o Itumalo, le ausia ai o le iva sefulu pasene 90% le telē o le sao taua a nei mailei i le tu’u itiitia o meatuaolo. O lo’o iai mea pueata o loo fa’apipi’iina, e mata’ituina nei mailei ma le fegāoia’i o puaa aivao, ma ua faamauina ai le silia atu i le 20 puaa e mafai ona maua i lona tataoina.
O lo’o aofia i nei mailei lona fa’atautau sautua lua e sili atu ma le 8,000lb lona mamafa, ae 20ft lona fa’ata’amiloga atoa i lalo. O lona fa’ataumata e 2(ft) futu lona lautele e taofia le oso i fafo o manu ua i totonu o le mailei ma e tusa ma le 30% pasene o lona avanoa i luga e taofia ai. E ui i le malosi atoatoa o lenei mailei, ae fa’amoemoe lava lona aoga ma le manuia i le sa’o o le nofoaga e tataoina ai. Ua maea foi ona tu’ufa’atasia e le Matagaaluega tusi ta’iala e limata’ita’iina ai le fa’aaogaina ma le fa’asoaina o nei mailei i Itumalo ma Ofisa o Fono Fa’avae.
O lo’o iai pea le fa’amoemoega i le Matagaluega o Fa’atoaga ma Faigafaiva i le auina mai o nisi mailei ma le anoanoai o poloketi e mafai ona tali atu i lenei fa’afitauli ua sosolo fa’aafi. O lo’o fautuaina foi le tu’upa lelei o a tatou fagafao ma lafu manu, ina ia tu’u itiitia le fa’atupulaia o manu ua ta’avao ma fa’alegaina ai meatoto.
