'Ban on export of buffalo meat to hit other meat exports too'

Sai Nikesh | The Dollar Business

Ban on buffalo meat export will result in downfall of meat export business, said an expert. Speaking to The Dollar Business on buffalo meat exports, sources from Al Nasir Exports Private Limited said, “Buffalo meat exports from India have been facing a worst situation due to various reasons like lack of demand in markets like China, which has been one of the key destinations for Indian buffalo meat exports.” The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in a letter to Lok Sabha on July 9, 2015, had informed that the export of beef (meat of cow, oxen and calf) had been prohibited. Since animal husbandry was a State subject, it said the state governments could enact legislations to preserve cattle. It had also informed that the Department of Commerce had withdrawn the Transport Assistance Subsidy (TAS) to meat exporters since January 1, 2014. Besides, various independent organizations and social activists have been voicing against meat exports from India. The major states that largely contribute for buffalo meat production are Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Punjab. And, the major destinations for Indian buffalo meat exports for the year 2014-15 are Vietnam Social Republic, Malaysia, Egypt Arab Republic, Thailand and Saudi Arabia. According to Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), India's livestock population includes 88 million buffaloes, which is 58% of the world's buffalo population. Besides, about 3600 slaughter houses, there are live modern abattoirs and one integrated abattoir meat processing plant for slaughtering buffaloes for exports and domestic consumption. There are 24 meat processing plants including 13 pure export-oriented units and in the last one year, three new export oriented units of buffalo meat processing have been approved and are reportedly under implementation.    

July 20, 2015 | 6:57 pm IST.