Sharp rise in meat exports
THE livestock sector has experienced massive growth in meat exports for the past one year, with the country earning 51,894,622.44 US dollars (about 121.9bn/-), thanks to significant investments in product processing factories.
The Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Mr Abdallah Ulega painted the brighter future in the sector, announcing that more industry growth and revenue increase are anticipated in 2023/24 financial year.
Tabling 295bn/- budget estimates for the 2023/24 financial year, Minister Ulega told the National Assembly here on Tuesday that 112bn/- has been allocated for the livestock sector development, while the remaining 183bn/- is for recurrent expenditure.
He said in the 2023/24 fiscal year, the ministry through the Tanzania Meat Board (TMB) will ensure they stick to the additional value of chain for the meat products as well as observing standards of both the imported and exported products.
Mr Ulega said that TMB has been making close monitoring and control of the meat export business and as of April 30th, this year, a total of 12,242.79 tonnes of meat have been exported.
Of the exported meat, it has fetched revenue of 51,894,622.44 US dollars (about 121.9bn/-), which is an increase of 43.1 per cent, compared to 8,877.80 tonnes of the export for the corresponding period in 2022, which earned the country 36,264,786.13 US dollars (about 85.2bn/-).
Giving breakdown of the export of 12,243.79 tonnes, Minister Ulega said 457.59 tonnes was cattle beef, 8,689.80 (goat), 2,969.20 (mutton), 2.10 (chicken) and 122.70 (pork) among other products.
He attributed the export increase to the ruling party CCM-election manifesto of 2020-2025 and President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s efforts to make sure the sector grows and increase its contribution to the national economy.
Minister Ulega said through President Samia visits abroad which among others she ensures there is conducive investment and business environment, the country is opened up and the livestock industry is experiencing massive export for improved national economy and people welfare.
He named the countries which are the major markets for meat from Tanzania as China, Vietnam, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates of Dubai, Oman, Jordan, Bahrain, Kenya and Comoros.
He said the recent government decision to ensure that there are 42 abattoirs of which six bear state-of-the-art status and are internationally certified to allow meat export are among the milestones for the success.
Minister Ulega named the six states- of- the- art abattoirs which are ISO certified as Alpha Choice, Chobo Investment, Tanchoice Limited, Elia Food Oversea Limited, Dodoma and Nguru Hill Limited.
The government will keep on providing awareness and capacity building training among the industry stakeholders, so that they go for value addition of the livestock products to fetch good prices and ensure they strive for the quality to attract markets.
Moreover, the minister said as of March 2023, a total of 2,218,293 livestock worth 1.74tri/- were sold in local auction markets, which is a 4.3 per cent increase compared to cattle, sheep and goat worth 1.5tri/- sold in 2021/22.
He named other areas which they will focus on in the next financial year as the leather industry which has attracted markets in Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Togo, China, Italy and South Africa.
Nigeria dominates the country’s leather export market by 96 per cent.
He said the country also has increased productivity in the dairy industry, as the government wants to formalise the meat industry practitioners.
As to have the best livestock seeds, the government improved the capacity of National Artificial Insemination Company, Tanzania Livestock Research Institute (TALIRI) and National Ranching Company (NARCO).
