Day 48 – Q 3.Examine the potential and challenges of processed meat export from India.
3. Examine the potential and challenges of processed meat export from India.
भारत से प्रसंस्कृत मांस निर्यात की संभावनाओं और चुनौतियों की जांच करें।
Approach:
- Introduction
- Potential
- Challenges
- Steps taken by the government and Way forward.
- Conclusion
Introduction:
The main types of Meat being exported from India are Buffalo meat, sheep & goat meat, processed Meat and poultry Meat.
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) regulates export of agricultural processed food products including meat and meat products. India exports, both frozen and fresh chilled meat to more than 54 countries in the world. Major export destinations include Vietnam, Malaysia and Egypt. Buffalo meat accounts for about four fifth of the total meat exports from India.
Potential:
India produces about 4.9 million tons of meat annually valued at US $ 4,600 millions, and has grown @ 4.5% during the last two decades. During the last five years, this segment has been growing very fast at the rate of 27% annually.
- India accounts for more than a half of the world buffalo population and has a competitive advantage: it is cheaper.
- Meat industry has shown a tremendous change in the last one decade with the establishment of the eco-friendly fully integrated processing plants.
- Increase in the purchasing power and changing taste buds in these growing economies are a few of the growth drivers.
- There are opportunities in terms of product categories. Frozen products are particularly picking up, in both raw and processed meat. Geographically, the reach of India is also expanding in the world meat market.
- India has a very good quality meat, very natural, and some of it could be labelled ‘green’ or ‘organic’, with a good ability to trace the product.
Challenges:
In spite of big potential of the large livestock population, meat industry in India has not taken its due share.
- Very little processing of meat (1%) for ready to eat meat products. Poor machinery for processing.
- Europe and the United States, two chief markets in terms of meat, have been setting up protective barriers.
- Political discussions around beef ban is emerging as one of the biggest challenges. Religious sentiments involved.
Steps taken by the government:
- The government has introduced ‘meat.net’ software to facilitate issue of health certificates through the system.
- The Central Sector Scheme for Setting up/ Modernization of Abattoirs.
- Central Sector Scheme for Technology Upgradation/Modernization/ Establishment of Food Processing Industries including meat processing.
- Agricultural Export Promotion Scheme.
Conclusion:
Meat processing industry has a good future. It needs proper attention by the Government and private entrepreneurs. Improving infrastructure (cold storage, abattoirs), farmers’ training, ensuring health and hygiene and moving up in the ladder chain in processing will go a long way in providing the sector the required boost.
Best answer: N Mehta
