Lata Plantation Development Ltd

28/04/2026

Turning our garden green waste to our own GREEN GOLD MANURE.

COMPOSTING🥬🥒➡️Back to our garden.

21/04/2026

"BEES are natures little miracles, buzzing through life and reminding us that TEAMWORK makes the dream work".
🌺🌻🐝🐝

08/04/2026

Despite certain challenges faced like climatic condition, diseases etc etc.

But at the end of the day OUR main goal is to met our valuable customers demand with fresh and quality produces.

(9/4/26)

30/03/2026

The future of Farming is not about growing more, but about growing better.

23/03/2026

BEING A farmer MEANS SHAKING HANDS with nature.

20/03/2026

LPD - Vaitele Apiary is a buzzzz🐝🐝🐝🙌🙏

19/03/2026

Bees also requires effort from beekepers to keep their momentum going.

19/03/2026

24/12/2025

Public Awareness on the Detection of American Foulbrood (AFB) in Samoa
Date: 24 December 2025

The Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries (MAF) wishes to inform the public of the recent detection of American Foulbrood (AFB) in Samoa. The detection was reported in late November 2025 by the Samoa Apiculture Association (SAO), led by its President Papalii Richard Wetzell. The affected locations include Siusega and nearby villages, where AFB has been confirmed in several bee hives.

About American Foulbrood (AFB):🐝
American Foulbrood is a highly contagious bacterial disease that affects honeybee colonies. It is caused by the bacterium Paenibacillus larvae, which produces extremely resilient spores capable of surviving in the environment for more than 20 years.
While AFB was first detected in Samoa in 2016, periodic emergence can occur due to a long-term persistence of these spores.

Eradication and Control Measures:
MAF, in collaboration with SAO, is implementing necessary eradication and containment measures to control and eliminate the disease. These measures include:
• Full spraying and disinfection of affected apiaries.
• Collection and on-site destruction of all infested hives through controlled burning.
• Surveillance and monitoring of surrounding areas to prevent further spread.

Public Advisory:
Members of the public, particularly families residing in the affected areas identified by SAO, are kindly requested to fully cooperate with MAF and SAO officers undertaking surveillance and eradication activities.
A formal notification has been issued through the Ministry of Women, Community & Social Development (MWCSD) via village Mayors to ensure that households permit access to their properties for surveillance and eradication activities.
At this stage, there is no cause for alarm. MAF and SAO are actively managing the situation and are currently engaging only with households where AFB has been confirmed.
The community is encouraged to remain vigilant, follow guidelines provided by authorities, and support ongoing efforts to protect our honeybee industry.

For further information, please contact:
Matai’a Ricky Faatonu, email: [email protected] or phone: 7735353
Seumaloisalafai Afele Faiilagi, [email protected] or phone: 7591723

06/11/2025

Be in for your chance to win.🐝🐝🐝🍯🍯🍯

🐝 SAO Christmas Giveaway

Complete the Baseline Survey by 21 November for your chance to WIN one of four 5-Frame Nuc Colonies, a fantastic opportunity for new or expanding beekeepers! The winners will be announced at the Beekeepers Forum Meeting on November 28th, so don't miss out!

How to enter
👉 Complete your survey here: https://ee-kobo.fao.org/x/Ob1sL5eK
✉️ Email: [email protected] to confirm completed
👍 Facebook Like and share our competition post
The survey is open to members and all aspiring beekeepers in Samoa

09/10/2025

Statement from the Samoa Apiculture Organisation

Papali‘i Richard Wetzell – President

The Samoa Apiculture Organisation (SAO) fully supports the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries - Samoa , through its Biosecurity Samoa in enforcing strict border measures to protect Samoa from the introduction of harmful pests and diseases.

Recent interceptions at Faleolo International Airport, Fagali‘i Airport, and Apia Wharf have led to the seizure of prohibited items, with honey being the most common product smuggled into the country.

SAO strongly endorses these enforcement efforts. The illegal importation of honey and other bee products poses a grave threat to Samoa’s bee population by potentially introducing destructive pests and diseases.

One of the most devastating of these is American Foulbrood (AFB), a bee disease known worldwide. The only way to control AFB is to seal infected hives, apply petrol, and burn all equipment—a process that results in severe financial loss. In New Zealand, recent outbreaks have cost affected beekeepers hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Over the past decade, SAO and local beekeepers have worked tirelessly to contain and eradicate AFB from Samoa. Our vision is to safeguard our bee population and position Samoa as one of the very few Pacific Islands free of bee pests and diseases. Currently, Niue is the only island in the Pacific with this status—Samoa has the potential to become the second. Achieving this would open valuable opportunities for Samoan honey in overseas markets, strengthening the future of our beekeepers and their livelihoods.

Beekeeping, like all agriculture, requires time, patience, and care. Just as you cannot plant a seed today and harvest tomorrow, building strong bee colonies takes years of dedication. Yet all of this work can be destroyed by a single careless act of smuggling.

SAO therefore urges all members of the public to respect Samoa’s biosecurity laws and work together in protecting our bees, our honey industry, and the many families who depend on them.