India’s meat export rises to 13.53 lakh tonnes in 2016-17: Sitharaman

The Dollar Business Bureau

Meat exports from India rose to 13.53 lakh tonnes in the financial year 2016-17 from 13.36 lakh tonnes a year ago, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed the Parliament on Wednesday.

However, in value terms, exports dropped to Rs.27,184 crore in 2016-17, compared to Rs.27,528 crore in 2015-16.

“The Commerce Ministry has received no complaint with regards to the prevention of production of leather and meat, Sitharaman said in a written response to the Rajya Sabha.

However, the export of buffalo meat was declined, according to the data, she said.

During April-May period of 2016-17, buffalo meat export was $554 million whereas it stood at $530 million during the same period this fiscal.

She further said that during 2015-16 and 2016-17, the export of leather items and footwear declined in terms of value due to several factors that include various external factors such as the recession in the European markets and uncertainty in the Middle-East nations.

In a separate response, Sitharaman said that the government has got some representations to ban or restrict the meat exports.

“The Government has received some of the representations from Shree Bharat Vashiya Digamber Jain Mahasabha Charitable Trust, GauVansh Vikas Prakoshth, Govanshi Hatya Evam Niryat Nidhi Parishad and Akhil Bharat Krishi Go Seva Sangh,” she added.

On a question regarding e-commerce, she said that her ministry has got communications from a forum - All India Online Vendors Association (AIOVA) and others who raised issues with regard to e-commerce such as payment settlement.

“The issues raised by the associations regarding payment settlement emanated from disputes arising out of business operations of the entities involved,” Sitharaman said.

The government has taken proper action in line with suitable laws or statutes in such type of issues which comes via appropriate authorities, she replied.