Third mayor conference

A two-day National Conference of Mayors began January 17 to sensitise the mayors and officials of the municipal bodies about hygiene, slaughtering, processing and sale of meat and poultry products. The Conference is the third in the series of 6 proposed conferences.

The Conference organised by the National Meat and Poultry Processing Board was inaugurated by Dr. Charan Das Mahant, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries. In his inaugural address, Dr. Mahant stressed upon decisive efforts for production of hygiene and nutritious meat and poultry products. He said, meat and poultry are very good option for Indian population which is largely deficient in animal protein.

Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Shri Rakesh Kacker in his key note address said that food processing sector is growing rapidly and it has become the fastest growing sub-sector within the manufacturing sector.

The National Meat and Poultry Processing Board signed Memoranda of Understanding with National Minority Development Finance Corporation and Central Agricultural University, Imphal, on the occasion.

Since 1995 production of meat and meat products has been steadily growing at a rate of 4% per annum. Meat exports have been growing at close to 30% per annum in terms of quantity, which is largely driven by buffalo meat. India is the leading producer of buffalo meat in the world. During 2010-11 buffalo meat exports touched a record level of 7.09 lakh tonnes with export value at Rs. 8413 crores.