Africa-Press – Mozambique. Last Friday, the country’s second largest industrial abattoir was inaugurated – in Panda, Inhambane province.
With an estimated bovine population of more than 350,000, Inhambane province processes around 750 tons of meat per year. But, due to the lack of industrial capacity, a good part of the meat from Inhambane is taken to Maputo and Beira.
With the entry into operation of an industrial abattoir in Panda district this Friday, the “land of good people” will now process more than 1,000 tons of meat.
The Panda industrial unit has is able to slaughter and process 50 animals per day, or about 250 tons of meat per month, making a total of 3,500 tonnes per year.
The meat will be for local consumption, but in the near future it will start exporting to the Asian market, namely Vietnam and China.
The abattoir will buy meat from local breeders, but also plans to raise its own stock. Beside the processing unit, it has an area of 800 hectares, which will be dedicated to cattle farming.
At a total investment of more than US$4 million, the Panda abattoir is the second largest in the country.
According to Minister of Agriculture Celso Correia, there are industrial abattoirs in the cities of Maputo and Beira, an industrial unit in Gaza province that is paralysed, and another under construction in Tete province.
Minister Correia said that, with the entry into operation of the abattoir in Inhambane province, as well as others in the pipeline, the province could become self-sufficient in meat production within two years.
“We will have meat for local consumption, without having to order it from abroad. Anyone is free to buy abroad, but there will no longer be any need for that,” Correia added.
Through the Sustenta programme, the government is investing in the genetic improvement of animals raised in the country, with the acquisition of a thousand bulls for the animal breeding improvement.
In addition, Sustenta will also, through a loan, help the Panda abattoir to buy up and process all the meat farmed in the family sector in all districts of the province.
Also in the Panda district, Celso Correia delivered equipment to farmers and met about 150 extensionists recently hired to support family farmers across the province.
By
Hugo Firmino
