Report written by:
Hamed Mohamed Hamed
The Senate will witness during its plenary session tomorrow, chaired by Counselor Abdel Wahab Abdel Razek, and extensive discussions on the report of the Agriculture and Irrigation Committee on the proposal submitted by Representative Zain El-Etnawy regarding harm from the rise in red meat prices. Livestock has its real goals in achieving Egypt’s self-sufficiency in meat and dairy products.
In its report, prepared by the committee headed by Eng. Abdel Salam El-Gabaly, head of the committee, the committee indicated that the government seeks to achieve self-sufficiency in the basic needs of citizens, on top of which is meat production, which comes within the directives of the political leadership to achieve an abundance of goods and the needs of the Egyptian citizen, where the self-sufficiency percentage of Red meat is about 55% and 45% is imported from abroad. The total needs of meat reached about 950 thousand tons during 2021, of which 520 thousand tons were from local production and 430 thousand tons were imported from abroad (of which 330 thousand tons were chilled and frozen meat and liver). Imported kidneys, and 100,000 tons of imported meat produced from 400,000 imported live calves. The National Strategy for Sustainable Development 2030 is based on investment in the livestock sector.
Representative Zain Al-Atnawy, who did well in submitting this proposal, indicated that the prices of red meat witnessed a remarkable increase during the recent period in the markets due to the increase in feed prices, as the rise in feed costs became an economic burden on livestock breeders, which led to negative effects on that. sector, and the reluctance of many of them to raise livestock and stop investing in this sector.
Adding, there is another reason for the increase in meat prices, which is the decline in the import of meat from abroad in light of the confusion of the import and export operations of meat in most countries of the world as a result of the emergence of the Corona pandemic and the emergence of some serious epidemic diseases, as Egypt prohibits the import of any meat from any country in which dangerous animal diseases appear before Ensure the safety and suitability of meat for human consumption and that it is free of any diseases and that it conforms to local and international specifications. In addition, the rise in shipping and transportation fees and currency prices, low animal productivity, lack of natural pastures, and a decrease in the areas planted with fodder crops have led to a significant increase in meat prices in the recent period.
He added that about 50% of the feed raw materials and production inputs for the manufacture of broiler calves feed are imported from abroad and are affected by the currency rate and global markets.
He pointed out that the recent period witnessed a significant increase in the prices of red meat, and the price of a kilo of meat in some governorates reached more than 180 pounds, and the state imports 80% of its feed needs, which led to an exaggerated increase in the prices of red meat, which increases the Economic burden on citizens.
Al-Atnawy added, “This problem can be solved by controlling markets, increasing the productive movement of livestock, solving the problem of high feed prices, providing facilities to livestock breeders and small farmers with small troughs, and expanding the cultivation of feed crops.”
According to what was stated in the committee’s report, the representative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation explained that the whole world is witnessing a rise in meat prices, whether as a result of increased shipping fees or an increase in the prices of production inputs in general, especially feed inputs, in addition to an increase in the prices of imported calves following the Corona pandemic, pointing to The Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation is working all the time to provide the supply of red meat in the markets, in addition to granting the Ministry approvals to import the need of red meat to fill the deficit in local consumption.
He pointed out that the national project for veal comes within a number of national projects that aim to reduce the gap between the volume of import and consumption of red meat, as the importance of the national project for veal is clear in not slaughtering small veal calves at a weight of 100 kg and fattening these calves and slaughtering them at a weight of more than 450 kg to give 250 kg of hospital meat per head of calves, with the provision of heads imported from high-productivity calves to small breeders, and that the implementation of the national project for veal has started since 2017, with an amount of 100 million pounds allocated by the Ministry of Finance. Given the results achieved by the project, the total amounts allocated to the project reached 5.1 billion pounds in 2021, as the project grants farmers loans for fattening livestock at a decreasing interest rate of 5%. The number of beneficiaries of these loans has reached about 39 thousand beneficiaries, with a total loan of 6.5 billion pounds.
The representative of agriculture stressed that one of the most important results achieved by the national project to revive veal is to provide municipal red meat with a total of more than 50,000 tons, provide job opportunities for youth and small farmers in the countryside, reduce red meat import, and provide hard currency, adding that a four-way protocol was signed between the Ministries of Agriculture and Land Reclamation , Supply and Internal Trade, the Agricultural Bank of Egypt, and the National Service Projects Organization, through which livestock are imported under strict conditions and control with the aim of improving the breeds. fair and put them in their outlets at prices lower than market prices.
He added that there are continuous presidential directives to support the national project for veal, double its size and productivity, and expand the involvement of civil associations because of their effective network of communication with small breeders at the level of the Republic, while providing all aspects of veterinary care, and studying any problems facing the beneficiaries, and the President of the Republic has approved the provision of An amount of 10 billion pounds to support the meat industry in Egypt to increase the allocations for the national project for veal.
The representative of agriculture revealed that the project to develop milk collection centers within the state’s general vision to protect the health of Egyptians by raising food safety standards, and providing healthy milk using the best specialized expertise in this field and in accordance with international standards, which include organizing the process of transporting and trading milk, as well as increasing productivity and profitability for the benefit of These centers, noting that the number of dairy collection centers at the level of the Republic is 826, all of which are unlicensed and operate in an irregular manner, and Ministerial Resolution No. 418 of 2020 was issued regarding the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation licensing in accordance with the standard requirements, and the number of milk collection centers during the first phase of the plan Executive Director for the development of these 205 centers.
The representative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation emphasized the provision of meat of all kinds in the markets and in all branches and outlets of the ministry at the level of the Republic, with large quantities being offered to achieve abundance in the markets to control prices, as well as launching periodic inspection campaigns on all markets to control any violations, and prevent any price manipulation and assignment The directorates of veterinary medicine in the governorates carry out daily inspection campaigns on markets and control campaigns on stores selling meat and meat products, in addition to coordinating with other concerned authorities to tighten control over meat and meat products outlets.
He added that during the year 2021, the development and upgrading of efficiency and the replacement, establishment and addition of 80 veterinary units, bringing the number of veterinary units at the level of the Republic to 1822 veterinary units. Veterinary services and genetic improvement within 332 agricultural services centers, which will be implemented within a decent life program.
He pointed out that the state supported the livestock sector through national projects such as the national project for veal, the national project for the establishment and development of milk collection centers, and the genetic improvement project. The national livestock numbering project was also implemented, which resulted in drawing a comprehensive map of livestock at the level of the Republic through numbering and registration. A thorough and comprehensive inventory.
As for the officials of the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade, as stated in the committee’s report, they made it clear that a number of measures were taken within the framework of the plan of the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade represented by the Holding Company for Food Industries to control the prices of meat in the markets. For fresh Sudanese meat, in 2015 a contract was concluded between the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade. Supply and internal trade represented by the Holding Company for Food Industries and the Sudanese Defense Industries System represented by Multi-Directions Company Ltd. to supply quantities of fresh Sudanese meat (Carex) totaling 85 thousand tons of Sudanese meat, according to the contract and its annexes, a quantity of 62,500 tons has been implemented and it was agreed with to complete Supplying the contract quantities, amounting to 22,500 tons, equivalent to 125 thousand live cows slaughtered at the Toshka quarry and slaughterhouse of the South Valley Development Company, for supply until 2023, and it was agreed to fix prices at 95 pounds per kilo until the completion of receiving the entire quantity, which is lower than the prices of its counterpart In the markets, with values ranging from 20% to 30%. It was also agreed with the Sudanese side to form a strategic stockpile of live heads inside the Republic of Egypt. It is estimated that the amount of ten thousand heads of permanently live cows in the Toshka quarry is replaced in succession to provide daily fresh Sudanese meat with a quantity of 300 sacrifices to be provided at the outlets of the companies affiliated with the Holding Company to meet the needs of citizens.
Representatives of the Ministry of Supply indicated that the supply of fresh meat in consumer complexes has been increased during the previous period until now to control prices in the markets, pointing out that quantities of fresh Sudanese meat will be pumped to the private sector at reasonable prices through the quantities contracted by the Egyptian Sudanese Company (a joint stock company). The Egyptian Holding Company and the National Service Projects Organization participated in its establishment by 25% for each party, as well as the Multi-Directions Company Limited by 40% and the South Valley Development Company by 10%), which is estimated at about 30,000 heads to be pumped to the consumer in the private sector markets at reasonable prices and these quantities are other than the quantities Which are imported by Multiple Directions Co. Ltd. for the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade.
It was also agreed with the Egyptian-Sudanese company to pump additional quantities of Sudanese meat estimated at 10,000 heads to the holding company in order to increase the supply of Sudanese meat and also to provide it for the implementation of the protocol with the Ministry of Endowments.
They pointed out that these quantities and the contracted quantities will suffice until the end of 2023, and with regard to imported frozen meat, the catering representative explained that an agreement is underway with MediTrade to diversify the sources of importing frozen meat and to develop new origins from Ukraine, Belarus, Russia / Colombia / Venezuela for a quantity of 6 thousand tons annually. It can be increased according to the requirements of the markets at reasonable prices to be an alternative to the Brazilian origin, which is witnessing an increase in its prices during the current period, in addition to diversifying the sources of import. An agreement was made with Meditrade during the current period to supply 500 tons of Brazilian meat, in addition to an agreement to supply another 1,000 tons and it will be pumped To the consumer at prices lower than those in the market, with values ranging from 5% to 10%.
In its report, the committee emphasized that the presence of an accurate database that is updated periodically has become a necessity to take sound decisions in a timely manner, such as importing livestock, providing vaccines and serums for the local product, improving breeds, increasing production and investments in meat and dairy, and knowing the needs of breeders and producers of fodder and veterinary services.
The committee stated that providing meat at appropriate prices to all citizens is a pivotal issue, given the great importance of the livestock sector in providing food security and citizens’ needs for animal protein from meat and milk.
The committee recommended adhering to the conditions of animal production safety, to increase production rates of red meat and to prepare short, medium and long-term plans to reduce the rise in red meat prices in the local market, with the need for integration, coordination and close cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation and small farmers who produce 70% of local production of red meat, in addition to opening consumer complexes to sell frozen and chilled meat and subsidized municipal meat in all governorates, increasing production rates of poultry and fish wealth as alternatives, and working to change the consumer’s culture on the importance of consuming chilled and frozen meat because it is subject to precise standards in hygiene and health requirements. Improving the genetic characteristics of local breeds through Mixing and crossbreeding with foreign breeds of high efficiency and productivity, providing feed and regulating its distribution, and working to improve the quality of feed and the way it is manufactured and developed by scientific methods.
The committee also recommended the provision of veterinary care in terms of vaccination against diseases, the provision of serums, medicines and vaccines, the good supervision of massacres and raising their efficiency, the provision of the necessary number of veterinarians and the expansion of the cultivation of fodder crops, especially maize and soybeans, in addition to the need for the state to intervene in a time of crisis by creating the required balance Increasing the imported quantities of red meat.
At the end of the report, the committee demanded that the council approve the recommendations and refer the report to the concerned authorities.
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