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Government moves to boost meat market
2007-07-22 12:17:34
By Imani Lwinga
Imperative plans are being put in place by the government to boost the livestock sector by setting out various abattoirs in the country and observe strict measures for meat production, The Guardian on Sunday has learnt.
The measures could be defined as a response to President Jakaya Kikwete\'s call to revamp livestock sector and embark on producing quality meat and meat products for export.
State-owned firm, National Ranching Company (NARCO) which owns ranches with a total area of 230,384 hectares and a good number of beef cattle was now seeking joint ventures in the construction, operation and management of abattoirs and meat processing plants.
``Through public-private partnership, the government aim to exploit the vast livestock resources and stimulate the industry so that it can considerably contribute to the national economy and reduce poverty amongst livestock farmers,`` Livestock development ministry said recently.
Tanzania is rich in livestock resources, raking third in Africa in terms of cattle population after Ethiopia that has 31 million and Sudan with 30 million cattle, sources say.
The estimated livestock population in the country amounts to 18.5 million cattle, 13.1 million goats, 3.6 million sheep and 30 million indigenous poultry among other species, but the potentials in the market remain unexploited.
Gulf stands to be a good market for Tanzanian meat. Of the 88.6 million hectares of land resource, 60 million hectares are rangelands suitable for livestock grazing.
The rangelands have a capacity to carry a total of 20 million livestock units. Presently only 17 million Livestock Units are kept, leaving ample land for expansion of the livestock industry and hence the potential for investment opportunities.
Yet, the available livestock industry has not fully utilized. But now NARCO intends to construct, operate and manage the abattoirs and meat processing plants in Arusha, Coast, Mwanza, Mbeya, Mara and Kagera regions.
Already, it has called on the private investors both national and international to come into joint ventures with NARCO to own 51 per cent and 49 per cent shares capital respectively of the abattoirs.
``These abattoirs are intended to slaughter an average of 250-300 per plant for cattle, goats and sheep per day for each category on rotational slaughter basis in an eight hour working shift,`` the ministry has said.
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