NTPC Assists Future Farms Ltd on Green Productivity Project
Bob Mitchell is the manager for Fiji National University Department of Quality Awards at the National Training and Productivity Centre.
The National Training and Productivity Centre identified Future Farms Ltd trading as Rooster Poultry as a potential demonstration organisation.
The centre held several meetings with the top management of Future Farms Ltd and discussed the project NOTIfiCATION, WHICH INCLUDED OBJECTIVES OF THIS DEMO-PROJECT, PARTIES INVOLVED, ROLES, RESPONSIBILITIES OF STAKEholders and the targeted outcomes.
The Green Productivity Project
The project focused on managing chicken litter waste by transforming it into value-added commercial products which involved modernising the process.
This will promote safe, environmentfriendly, sustainable food production, and increase the productivity and competitiveness of Future Farms, while showcasing effective waste management.
Poultry manure is organic waste composed mainly of faeces and urine.
The mixture of poultry manure with spilled feed, feathers, and bedding materials like wood shavings or sawdust, is referred to as poultry litter.
Poultry litter is organic manure enriched with many major plant nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and trace elements like zinc, and copper.
In addition, poultry litter contains traces of arsenic, which is harmful to human and animal health and can contaminate water and soil.
The composition and quality of poultry litter vary with the type of
poultry, litter used, diet and dietary supplements, litter collection and storage methods.
Planning and implementation phase
The planning stage consisted of a diagnostic survey regarding:
■compa■y’s current production scheme,
■raw materials,
■vo●ume of waste materials,
■market opportunity for by-products which included understanding the current operations of Future Farms.
The team identified the challenges for the project, collecting data and information, and developing a master waste management framework for the overall implementation of the waste management policy and methodology.
During the period of implementation, an expert from Australia, Angus Irwin, the owner and managing director of Neutrog.
Neutrog is a world leader in research and development in biological fertilisers and commercialisation of chicken manure into pelleted and liquid fertiliser, compost and mulch, had assisted Future Farms in the implementation phase and also carried out a post-project review to assess the results and benefits derived by the company, and overall impact of the project.
The implementation stage involved setting up a poultry waste management framework and establishing a system with Future Farms, which effectively implements poultry waste management technologies to achieve the targeted outcomes.
This stage was carried out by Future Farms with the guidance of the APO expert with the project expected to be completed in eight to 10 – 12 months.
The NTPC team made numerous visits to the various Future Farms sites to record the current processes involved in handling the chicken litter by Future Farms.
Monitoring phase
There were two manure pile set ups during the initial stage, with the first manure pile approximately 30m long, 13 metres wide, and 3 metres high.
Each was sprayed and mixed with inoculate.
Each of these pile had a total of approximately 60-65 tons of manure.
Temperature recordings of each pile
was an important process of critical measurement to ensure that the piles are heating to the required temperature, which ensured that they are composting properly.
If a pile is not at the required temperature, or the temperature is not consistent, it indicated a problem with the composting process which had to be addressed.
The temperature needed to be maintained between 55 - 70 degree celcius, if the temperature was lower than 55, or higher than 70 degrees,.
Reporting is to be done to the Future Farms project team for immediate actions.
The APO experts from Neutrog also did training in this area. Future Farms also engaged the services of the Ministry of Agriculture on the testing of the compost.
Some of the constraints identified by the team were the prolonged rain period and four tropical cyclones in relatively short succession encountered during the implementation phase of this project.
The heavy rain also hindered the project’s progress and made the site inaccessible as the road leading to the site was not in a good condition for vehicles to get through.
Future Farms invested a substantial amount to have the road upgraded.
COVID-19 had severely affected the operations at the Future Farms due to Lautoka lockdown in 2020.
Future Farms team activated its contingency plans to ensure the project progressed.
Capacity building
The experts from Neutrog had trained and also provided advice to Future Farms participants with the leadership team consisting of Stanley Raniga and Samuela Naisua.
Mr Naisua is also the Future Farms project coordinator and risk officers in the following areas:
■mappi■g process for new process work flow,
■sta■dard operating site location area,
■the initial phase of implementation, monitoring and evaluation process,
■I■ocu●a■t process, testing phases with key stakeholders,
■discussio■ with key stakeholders on spin-offs for this projects.
The project had provided procedures,
Future
Farms Ltd with an opportunity through NPO Fiji and APO’s assistance to maximise on its current waste management and turn it into an environmental friendly product that will assist farmers, home garden owners, and commercial farming.
Project effectiveness
The effectiveness of this project has seen its success on its implementation right through to the final completion phase.
Although the project had exceeded the set-up phase, which was approximately four-six months due to the weather, the Future Farms team was very optimistic about the whole project and had full management support.
The monitoring and evaluations phase was about four to six months.
Project efficiency
The project was extended by 10 months due to delays that were out of the Future Farms team’s control.
These were the changing weather conditions, the global pandemic which impacted its operation.
The project was continuously monitored by NTPC/Future Farms Team.
The flexibility of Future Farms in assisting capital expenditure was well noted during the budget revision process.
Project Impact
There is no doubt the project succeeded in creating a more favourable environment for vegetable farmers in acquiring the final product i.e. Compost Magic and are fully utilising the opportunity with maximum returns.
At the same time NTPC is working with Future Farms in creating a national awareness on the success of this project, and its benefits and it has come at no better time than during the global pandemic with the emphasis on home Gardening and planting own vegetables for sustainable living.
Project sustainability
The process put in place by Future Farms and the assistance of experts from Neutrog has set the platform for its sustainability in the mid to long term.
Future Farms is looking at expanding its operations in this area.
The multi-stakeholder platform has created a niche market for final products and with Future Farm activities in promoting the product created demand from other town and cities.
Sustainability of the project is however reflected in the continuation by Future Farms, and some of its awareness campaigns.
Finally, NTPC is proud to be associated with the green productivity (GP) project at Future Farms Ltd and looks forward to assisting Fijian SME’s in understanding Green Productivity and implementing GP Projects including providing consultancy services.
The consultancy programmes are innovative and custom-made to suit the organisation and ensure that organisation(s) needs are met. ■Shou●d