Export Statistics

Indian buffalo meat is witnessing strong demand in international markets due to its lean character and near organic nature. Exported Buffalo meat from India have increased from 726287.27 MT with the value of Rs 8607.79 crores in 201011 to 1106965.20 MT with the value of Rs 17400.60 crores in 2012-13

Indias exports of poultry products has also increased from 516753.83 MT with the value of Rs. 314.27 Crores in 2010-11 to 577812.60 MT with the value of Rs 494.14 Crores in 2012-13

Indias exports of processed meat increased from 1305.96 MT with the value of Rs 19.50 crores in 2010-11 to 1330.86 MT with the value of Rs.21.56 crores in 2012-13

Indias export of sheep/goat meat has increased from 12298.38 MT with the value of Rs 258.79crores in 2010-11 to 16046.90MT with the value of Rs.425.66 crores in 2012-13

The top five destinations for export of Indian sheep/goat meat during 2012-13 were United Arab Emirates (47.87%), Saudi Arabia (29.53%), Qatar (10.25%), Kuwait (6.53%) and Oman (2.21%)

As the country's livestock industry is changing, India attempts to become a key player in the global meat market.

The major destinations for export of Indian poultry products for the year 2012-13 were Afghanistan (15.82%), Saudi Arabia (9.12%), Indonesia (7.59%), Germany (7.48%) and Netherlands (7.33%)

The top five destinations for export of Indian processed meat products for the year 2012-13 were Thailand (27.80%), Australia (19.90%), Myanmar (15.30%), United Arab Emirates (12.86%) and Saudi Arabia (8.20%)

Indias export of animal casing products has reached 602.53 MT with the value of 18.37 crores for the year 2012-13. The major importer of Indian animal casings for the year 2012-13 were Albania( 28.65%), South Africa(10.90%), Lebanon (10.32%), Egypt Arab Republic (9.67%) and Syria (9.43%) (Source: DGCIS Annual Data)

Livestock sector is one of the most important components of agriculture in India. The value of the output from livestock and fisheries sectors together stood at about Rs. 148,954 crores (US $ 31,000 Million) during 1998-99 (Rs. 123,076 crores, equivalent to US $ 28,000 Million, for Livestock sector and US $ 59,00 Million for fisheries), which accounts for 27 per cent of the value of the output of Rs. 553,175 crores (US $ 115,300 Millions) from total Agriculture and the allied fields. (Planning Commission, 2001). Meat production is estimated at 4.9 million tones, standing eighth in rank in the worlds meat production. Buffalo in India contributes about 30% of total meat production. The contribution by cattle, sheep, goats and poultry is 30%, 5%, 10%, 10.2% and 11.5%, respectively. In spite of big potential because of large livestock population, the meat industry in India has not taken its due share. Although India has acquired number one status in the world contributing 13% of world milk production, the meat production, which jibes well with dairying, is very low. During the last 25 years, it has only increased from 764,000 tones in 1970-71 to 4.9 million tones valued at Rs. 21,900 crores (US $ 4600 Million), (FAO, 2000, Planning Commission of India, 2001). The compound average growth rate during the last two decades works out to 4.6% as against 21% during the last 5 years (Table 1), which shows it, is now the fastest growing segment of livestock sector. The trends in livestock population, slaughter rate (number slaughtered as percentage of population), carcass weight and meat production in India over 2 decades 1975-2000 are shown in Table 2 (Ranjhan, 2002, FAO, 2000). It is noticed that about 6% cattle, 11% buffaloes, 33% sheep, 38% goats and 84% pigs are slaughtered each year. The share of bovine meat in the total meat production in India is about 60% as against small ruminants (15%), pigs (10%) and poultry (12%). There are many reasons for the slow growth of the meat industry, including the negative attitude of public towards meat on account of misinformation campaign, and socio-political considerations. Most meats are sold in the domestic market without proper sanitary inspection by the veterinarians. Mostly small animals, sheep, goats and pigs are

slaughtered in unregistered slaughter houses in small numbers ranging from 2 10 by the individual butchers and meat is sold fresh on the same day. However, large numbers are slaughtered in the modern state-of-the-art abattoirs following world class sanitary and phytosanitary measures.

Export of Meat
Indias international trade in livestock and livestock products is mainly in live animals (17%), meat and meat products (82%), dairy products and eggs (1%). At the global level, Indias exports and imports account for only 0.17% of each. Meat and meat products have dominated the exports from livestock. The major export of meat is of buffaloes, which is shown in Table 3. The export of sheep and goat meat is less and is shown in Table 4. It may be seen that export of buffalo meat has increased significantly in the last five years. The export of buffalo meat in 1997-98 was 176,328 M.T., which was increased to 243,356 M.T. in 2001-2002. Accounting for an increase of 43%. During 2000-2001, the increase was even greater which stood at 47%. The export of small ruminant meat (sheep and goat) has decreased during the last five years. The export of sheep and goat meat registered in 1`997-98 was 7546 M.T., which came down to 3915 M.T. in 2001-2002 thus showing a fall of 35%. This has been due to the reduction in the import by Saudi Arabia. Now this market has opened for Indian meat, the export of sheep and goat meat will increase.

Challenges and Opportunities for Indian Meat Industry

(I) Setting up of the State of Art-Abattoir-cum-Meat Processing Plants (II) Packaging of Technologies to raise male Buffalo Calves for Meat Production (III) Buffalo Rearing under Contractual Farming as Backward Integration To the Modern Abattoirs for Meat Production (IV) Establishing Disease-Free Zones for Rearing Animals

If India had the Green Revolution, the White Revolution, and the Blue Revolution, can the Pink Revolution be far behind? The Green Revolution had led to self-sufficiency in food grains, the White Revolution saw India occupy the Number One Position in milk production in the world, and the Blue Revolution brought about increase in fish production. This proves that the Indian farmer is Progressive. What he needs is the lead in the right direction. Contribution of buffalo in bringing about the White Revolution in India is well known. India is now poised to achieve the Pink Revolution through buffalo. If this could be done, India can also achieve the Number one position in meat production. This could be achieved by reducing the mortality rate in male Buffalo calves (80%), and rearing the animals scientifically for quality meat production, For example, about ten million buffalo calves, which were otherwise eliminated in their very infancy, would become available for quality meat production. This will raise the standard of living of small and marginal farmers in the long run. Meat production has been neglected, and has not been given adequate attention by the scientists, policy makers, and entrepreneurs, coupled with lack of political will. If all these are combined, the meat production can be greatly enhanced. Meat production is intimately linked to quality leather production in which India has acquired Number Two position in the world after Italy. If substantive support is given by the Government, both meat and leather can also achieve Number One position in the world, like milk. In order to achieve the Pink Revolution, the following steps have been taken by the Government and the entrepreneurs in India. The Government and the Private Sector have already initiated many of the steps.

(I) Setting up of the State of Art-Abattoir-cum-Meat Processing Plants

The recent trend in India is to establish latest state-of-the-art abattoirs-cum-meat processing plants. India has already established 10 most modern state-of-art mechanized abattoirscum-meat processing plants in various States based on slaughtering buffaloes and sheep. These plants are environment friendly, where all the slaughterhouse byproducts are utilized in production of meat-cum-bone meal, Tallow, bone chips etc. They are also adopting appropriate technologies to obtain value added products. These plants have effluent treatment devices which treat all the washings of abattoirs, lair age etc. to safe water discharge having 30 PPM of BOD. A few more (eight) are under construction. The plants follow all the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures required by the International Animal Health code of O.I.E. Having no social taboo, like the cow in India, with buffalo slaughter, these plants mostly produce buffalo meat for export. India is becoming a major buffalo meat producing country and will be a main player in the international market with additional establishment of the state-of-art-abattoirs cum meat processing plants and control of FMD in three zones in few years from now. There are also four integrated poultry meat-processing plants, which follow sanitary, and phytosanitary measures of world class. The largest plant is of Venkatesara Hatcheries.

(II) Packaging of Technologies to raise male Buffalo Calves for Meat Production
In India, every year, about 10 million male calves are removed from the buffalo production system due to intentional killing by the farmers to save dams milk due to non-remunerative cost of raising male animals, thus incurring a loss of about US $ 11 million per annum. These calves could be salvaged for meat production, which will not only improve the economic condition of the farmers but also would increase meat production for domestic consumption and export market. In India intensive feeding of male buffalo calves has started for meat production. The male calves at the age of 6 - 8 months purchased from the farmers are quarantined for 15 days during which vaccination and de-worming are provided. Thereafter, they are fed on high protein/high energy diet to put on a weight of 120 kg in 4 months to produce quality meat. (Photograph 8) They are never fed on antibiotics, hormones and growth promoters. They are raised in organic farming. Meat from such animals is tender, lean and juicy and goes to the wet market.

(III) Buffalo Rearing under Contractual Farming as Backward Integration To the Modern Abattoirs for Meat Production
A strong need has been felt to establish a production base around each modern abattoir to produce quality disease-free animals as per the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) requirements of O.I.E. Hind Livestock Development Foundation has established a model backward integration with 110,000 farmers who are raising more than half a million buffaloes in 2,200 villages under contractual farming system (Photographs 9, 10, 11 & 12). The Foundation is providing animal health, animal feeding and extension management services to the farmers at their doorsteps. The marketing of the animals to the meat plant is organized by the Foundation to pay them remunerative prices. This has reduced the mortality in the male calves as inputs for animal rearing are provided by the Company in vaccination, de-worming and feeds.

(IV) Establishing Disease-Free Zones for Rearing Animals

India is now fortunately free from most of the trade related diseases listed at List A of the Office International des Epizooties (OIE), namely, Rinderpest, Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), etc. India has also not reported. Bovine Spongiform Encephalapathy (BSE Mad Cow Disease). However, Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is still prevalent in an endemic form in some States in India. The Government of India has established 3 Zones with 56 Districts to control FMD in the Tenth Five Year Plan. These Zones are in the North, Central and Southern zone where most of the EOU plants are located. Hopefully, in another 2 3 years, OIE recognized FMD free zones with vaccination would be established in the country, which will further boost meat export. The Project has started with 100% financial assistance from the Central Government. Training of the Veterinarians and purchase of vaccines have been completed. The mass vaccination has started from October 2003.

Issues for Buffalo Meat Development

(I) Discrimination Against Buffalo (II) Buffalo as a Tool for Food Security and Rural Employment (III) Price Parity with Cattle Beef (IV) Organization of Meat Sector Harmonization of Standards for Buffalo Meat (V) Research and Development in Meat Sector

In India due to religious bias, cattle (cow and its progeny) are not slaughtered since the majority of Hindu community does not eat beef. Further, even the non-vegetarian population which consists of about 70% of meat eating population, and its products, eat meat only 2 or 3 times in a week. Therefore, Indians are considered to be vegetarian. Since buffalo meat is not consumed to the extent to which it has the potential, it is surplus for export unlike goat/sheep/poultry meat, which is consumed by all non-vegetarians. In order promote buffalo for meat production. The following issues deserve serious consideration:

(I) Discrimination Against Buffalo

Buffalo is a great friend of man. It is not a draught animal only. It also gives milk and meat to the teeming millions at affordable prices. However, this animal has not been given its due place in the livestock sector. Paradoxically, it is discriminated against merely on account of its dark color. This is clear apartheid against buffalo in relation to its other cousins. On the other hand, it will not be an exaggeration if buffalo is recognized as black gold.

(II) Buffalo as a Tool for Food Security and Rural Employment

Buffalo if reared properly in hygienic environments, would provide food security and rural employment to the small and marginal farmer. This would be possible only if its byproducts are exploited ingenuously for benefit of mankind. Buffalo produces good quality of milk and meat. Its meat is lean, low in cholesterol and has excellent blending quality for production of corn beef, hot dogs and sausages.

(III) Price Parity with Cattle Beef

The international prices of buffalo meat are low as compared to the cattle beef. On the contrary, the prices of buffalo meat should be higher as it is lean, has low cholesterol and there have been no incidence of BSE from any part of Asia in buffalo. When raised in feedlot on high protein/high energy diet, the buffalo meat is tender and juicy as that of beef.

(IV) Organization of Meat Sector Harmonization of Standards for Buffalo Meat

There is need for harmonization of national standards for buffalo meat on the lines of beef. Proper Organization of Cattle Markets The meat animals are raised by the farmers, namely, sheep, goats, pigs etc. The farmers in small hold farming also raise the large animals. There are three stages through which the animal passes as has been shown in the figure below. At each stage, 15 25% cost is added till the animal reaches the slaughterhouse. This excludes the cost of transportation The surplus stock is sold to the primary trader in the village itself or it could be taken by the farmers to the weekly animal markets near the village where the secondary traders who are financially better off purchase the animals from the small collector. This trader also purchases the animals from the market to supply them to the main slaughterhouses for export. Usually, this should be the stage at which Municipal/State Government Veterinarian should carry out examination of each animal to ascertain that it is fit for slaughter and also fit for human consumption. The Government ought to modernize the cattle markets where end users should have an access to the farmers animals rather than the involvement of the agents in between. There should be a weighbridge and purchase prices should be displayed. This will give proper price to the farmers.

(V) Research and Development in Meat Sector

In India, there are many research Institutions, namely, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, and National Dairy Development Board, Pradeshik Dairy Development Federation etc. However, in meat there is none so far. Recently, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has established a National Research Center on Meat in Hyderabad. A good beginning has been made. However, it needs a full-fledged Research Institute on the lines of Dairy Institute, namely, NDRI, Karnal