By Dominick Rodrigues
Mumbai : India — one of the world’s leading exporters of buffalo meat — has been able to achieve this meat exports valued at US$ 3.17 billion in the year 2020-21, which is around previous year’s level of exports (2019-20), despite the year-long Covid-19 Pandemic, according to the Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Ministry of Commerce and Industry
The value realization of the nutritious and risk-free India buffalo meat also rose to US$ 2,921 from US$ 2,754 per MT due to it being very popular in over 70 countries including; Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Philippines and UAE. The Buffalo meat is prepared and exported in accordance with OIE guidelines for any risk mitigation with only boneless meat being allowed for export from India.
Noting that that all importing countries can safely procure Indian origin frozen boneless Buffalo meat and there are no supply chain hurdles, APEDA stated that this affordably-priced meat is contributing towards food security and food price inflation control in the importing countries.
The APEDA also highlighted several interventions by the Government of India to control and eradicate various livestock diseases. The Launching of National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) in June, 2019 to control Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis by 2025 with vaccination and eradication of disease by 2030 is one of the flagship schemes of GOI.
In order to fully contain and eradicate the diseases, 100% cost of vaccine is borne by the Central Government for which an outlay of Rs. 13,343 crore has been made. Under this programme all vaccinated animals are ear-tagged and a complete traceability is maintained. In addition, the Government of India has also been implementing several schemes for prevention, control and containment of Livestock diseases such as FMD.
India’s official FMD Control Programme received OIE’s endorsement, as per the provisions of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code. India has a world-class, meat-processing infrastructure which is certified for Quality Management, Food Safety Management and Environment management systems.
International organizations such as OIE, WHO and FAO have issued guidelines which categorically mention that it is highly unlikely that people can contact Covid -19 from food or food packaging. Covid -19 is a respiratory disease and the primary transmission route is through person to person contact. As per the guidelines of these International organizations, Indian meat processing establishments are following physical distancing, stringent hygiene and sanitation measures, besides regularly training staff and workers on food safety practices, a release stated..
