A’Saffa, one of the largest fully integrated poultry farms in Oman, has announced the launch of a RO9.3 million ($24 million) expansion project in Thumrait in the south of the country.
The equipment and machinery contracts have been finalised and excavation is underway, said a company statement.
Emirates Building Systems and Teejan have been awarded contracts for steel and civil work in the expansion, it noted.
The expansion strategy announced earlier this year will help boost production capacity by 50 per cent, doubling ‘hatching’ egg production from the current 10 million a year to 20 million.
The farm currently processes 34,000 birds per day, which will increase to 51,000 birds after the expansion is completed, the statement added.
The project is part of A’Saffa’s target of increasing the sultanate’s food security and self dependence, it was stated.
About 70 per cent of the production is being consumed in Oman and the rest is exported to the GCC and other foreign countries.
“At the moment we cater to just 16 per cent of the market that exists in Oman, despite producing 11 000 tonnes of chickens ever year. After expansion this will go up to 16 000 tonnes and we should be able to increase our market share to 24 per cent,” Dr Nasser Al Mauly, CEO, A’Saffa Poultry Farms, revealed.
Stanley Victor, head of marketing and sales, A’Saffa Poultry Farms, pointed out that when the company started commercial production in 2004 it produced up to 50 per cent of production capacity.
“Today, though we have reached 100 per cent of our production capacity, we are still unable to meet market requirements, so this expansion will definitely help us to cater to the increased demand,” he said.
The company’s net worth is set to move up to RO20 million in 2009, once the expansion is complete, with commercial production scheduled to start at the expanded capacity in the first quarter.
The plant processes 11 million chickens in a year, with 5 million chickens available at any given time. The A’Saffa range includes fresh and frozen chicken along with chicken snacks such as nuggets, burgers, fillets, fingers, samosas and springrolls.