|
Main Page
|
 |
|
News Channel |
|
Acute meat shortage likely
KARACHI (April 08 2004): Pakistan is likely to
face acute meat shortage as a result of widening
gap between meat supply and demand.
Meat demand is growing at almost six percent per
annum while supply is growing only at 1.3 percent.
Hence, there is a wide gap of 4.7 percent and this
gap is likely to grow in the prevailing
circumstances.
According to a report of Small and Medium
Enterprise Development Authority (Smeda), meat is
the second largest commodity, after milk, in
Pakistan's agriculture sector. Livestock
contributes 31 percent of the agricultural
value-added produce. The size of the meat market
in Pakistan at present is 2,185,000 tons.
Smeda is currently involved in chalking out a
sectoral strategy for the development of meat
industry. The focus of this strategy will be on
linkages between the producer, processor and
consumer. Initially, the plan would be to take on
beef production, with strong emphasis on export of
quality products.
Feed lots operations are currently missing in the
livestock production sector. The average weight
gain is much higher in case of feed lots as
compared to open grazing.
The growing world meat market is presently valued
at $ 81 billion per annum. Pakistan remains miles
away from this market primarily because of
weaknesses in the supply chain management.
Pakistan needs to evolve an export-driven strategy
to develop the livestock sector.
Japan alone imports meat worth nearly $ 6 billion.
Countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iran are
good prospects for Pakistan as they import 'Halal'
meat. It is easier to capture the Middle East
market. The only thing Pakistan needs to do is to
assure quality standards at each level of the
chain.
The first step towards accessing the international
market would be to introduce health and hygiene
protocols in the domestic meat market.
Unless the domestic market of meat is better
developed it is not possible to exploit the export
potential. At present, meat production and
distribution is almost totally in informal sector.
Courtesy Business Recorder
|
|
|
|
|
Pakissan.com; Advisory Point
|
|
