Title: Need to ban export of meat.- Laid
SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB (CUTTACK) : Cattle are vital for production of food and fodder and form an inseparable part of the rural economy. But in the early 90s the Government declared that meat exports was ‘a thrust area’ offering incentives and subsidies for the purpose and since then exports has gone up by leaps and bounds. In 2000-2001, 2,68,000 tonnes of meat were exported and it is claimed that it is only four percent of the total meat production in the country. It means 67 lakh tonnes of meat is being produced per annum in the country and, as a grown up buffalo yields 75 kg out of the average body weight of 330 kg., roughly nine crore animals are being slaughtered.
The Planning Commission, in the process of formulating the Tenth Plan, had made known its intention of doubling the earning from meat exports from the present level of Rs.1000 crore and a sub-group in the Union Agriculture Ministry has been appointed for the purpose. I urge upon the Government to ban export of meat as a myopic policy is not only encouraging mindless slaughter of lakhs of dumb creatures but providing to be very harmful to the rural economy and agricultural sector. The plea for the ban is not based on sentimental or religious grounds alone but on hard economic facts and impartial studies have proved beyond doubt that the losses resulting from such a policy far outweigh the gains.