Meat Industry: Exporting Omasum can increase revenue

PCJCCI chief suggests meeting standards to capture Chinese market

LAHORE: Pakistan can make a shift in exports by exporting Omasum, the second stomach of cows and buffaloes, to China as per standards, said Pak-China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) President Shah Faisal Afridi.

This was said after a meeting with Jinan Kemp International Trading Company Chairman George Sun, who has planned to import 200 containers of Omasum every month from Pakistan.

Afridi said that currently Omasum is exported in its raw form to China at a very low price, but earnings can be enhanced if the organ is exported in processed and value-added form.

Sun revealed that Omasum has a huge demand in China due to its nutritious and medicinal value. He said that the farmers are unable to meet the growing demand of meat; since only 14% of China’s land is arable, hence they have to import meat from other countries.

At present China is importing meat from Vietnam, Brazil and Australia who are struggling not only to meet demand but also to maintain the requisite standard.

The PCJCCI president urged the local meat traders and the government to adopt the standards to capture the meat market in China.

“The shift from rice to meat diet in China can be very encouraging for the Pakistani industry.

“The export of meat (beef, mutton, and camel meat) has increased, from $108.54 million in 2010-11 to $123.61 million in 2013-14, showing an increase of 13.9%.

“But our exports are still lacking due to limited techniques and skilled labour.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 14^th,  2016.

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