Dar es Salaam eyes lucrative Dubai meat market

Tanzania is preparing to take advantage of the meat market slot in Dubai through encouraging local businesspeople to supply animals to Ruvu abattoir that operates at international standards.

The move, under the ministry of industry and Trade through the Tanzania Trade Centre in Dubai, aims at supplying the Arab market with 150 tones of meat daily from Dar es Salaam. 

The Director of Tanzania Trade Centre in Dubai Mr Cleophas Ruhumbika told the ‘Daily News’ that the strengthening of Ruvu abattoir targets serving export markets in United Arab Emirates that demand 150 tonnes of meat from Tanzania, daily.

“We have to target Dubai market. The 150 tonnes are a minimum threshold to prompt cargo planes to come over to Dar es Salaam and we are putting in place long-term mechanisms to enable the local industry serves larger markets in Dubai," he said. 

The Tanzania Trade Centre in Dubai is a facilitator, linking Dubai-based importers and suppliers from Tanzania.

Mr Ruhumbika said the best thing would be for business people to get areas to keep cattle before supplying to the abattoir, noting that livestock number has been increasing steadily in recent decades at roughly three per cent. 

“Out of 3.7 million households in the country, three per cent are pastoralists and seven per cent are agro-pastoralists,” he said.

Despite the steady rise in livestock numbers, the sub-sector's contribution to the national economy as well as the households' well-being has remained minimal due to insufficient investment. 

He said that currently, the National Ranches Company (NARCO) abattoir at Ruvu in Coast Region has the daily capacity to slaughter 800 cows and bulls as well as 400 goats.

NARCO operates 15 branches with a land holding of 623,000 hectres and stock holding capacity of 155,300 head. 

Private commercial ranching exists in different regions with small stock numbers. So far, the only abattoir approved to export meat to United Arab Emirates (UAE) is in Dodoma, some 450-kms west of Dar es Salaam.

Mr Ruhumbika said the Ruvu abattoir would be best placed to serve export markets with meat, adding that Ruvu has a NARCO ranch where more business people can get areas around to keep cattle and serve the abattoir.

Source: The Daily News,http://www.dailynews.co.tz, reported by y Orton Kiishweko 

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