Monday, 23 July 2018

Meat Problem in Pakistan

Livestock Sector roughly contributes for 12 percent share in GDP of Pakistan which is more than any other sector related to Agriculture. The basic products are meat, milk and hide which generate immense revenue for poor farmer to survive economically and general public in terms of food.
Where meat is the best source of protein, it is also the major source of many zoonotic disease and antibiotic resistance. Meat hygiene remains a historic issue in sub continent for which still no holistic and pragmatic measures has been taken yet with the exception of laws and number of F.I.Rs which are lodged against butchers every year. But it does not change the situation much. The Augean stable still needs to be clean. The core lies in the conservative farming system and medieval farming model leading to poor turn over thus making meat an expensive commodity and making farming a nonprofit business except for the Sacrificial Eid Days. So, the best meat is also available in those days. But why not for the whole year around? Why the taste and texture of the meat is so much poor generally?
Pakistan,despite holding the top ten highest herds of Livestock in the world,has both milk and meat issues. Both the products are unavailable or the available products are not fit for consumption.
Butchers have to buy the cheapest possible animals which are mostly problematic as the rates are not feasible as against the cost of hygienic meat. Slaughter houses have veterinarians who have to work from 4 A.M to 8 A.M at slaughterhouses on a meagre allowance of 4500 Rs to 5000 Rs ( in Punjab) which even remain unpaid and then they have to attend their Civil Veterinary Hospitals from 8 A.M to around 5 P.M and that even with normal meagre salaries. In such situation where there is no protection to human life in terms of health and general security in poor standard slaughter houses across the Pakistan, no Veterinary Officer bothers much for ante-mortem examination with absence of necessary clinical tools to examine the animals. Lack of staff and over-worked staff is unable to thoroughly examine the animals and usually a bird eye view in terms of physical examination is done. The female animal is the best choice for butchers which is although illegal if useful but if some animal is a bit injured or some fracture is there, it can be allowed. Who knows it was an accident or the limb was broken intentionally? There are dozens of butchers with around 50-100 animals which need to be examined, stamped after flaying and then a simple certificate is issued in minimum possible time. Lack of systematic approach in government sector further aggravates the situation. Meat comes in the market after these steps and what happens next is another story.
In small villages usually some sort of lynch law serves better to discipline the butchers ( though not recommended) but in large cities and towns if some butcher is found with unstamped and un-wholesome meat due to some reasons (including dishonesty), veterinarians go for filing F.I.Rs against them. But most of the time Police refuses to co-operate instantly due to which the butcher flees from the spot. Police adopts delay tactics for such cases in which culprits are difficult to catch and after days of struggle, F.I.Rs are not lodged as it leads to an added burden on police department according to them. During this process even local politicians and “respectful personalities” try to influence the Veterinary Officers to step back or sometimes threats of serious consequences are given. In Ramazan Bazars this gets more worse where butchers have to sell meat at more reduced prices as practically there is no subsidy is favored on any type of meat except chicken.
This messy situation is responsible for poor meat quality in Pakistan. It is the need of the hour that farming model must be brought in line with modern standards to reduce the cost. Just like sound breeding policy is there for nurturing milch breeds (breeds which have increased milk production), there should be a policy for beef breeds as well which is highly variable according to area.  There must be separate staff for slaughter houses or the allowances must be reasonable with increased staff strength. New slaughterhouses with hygienic environment must be installed numbering to at least three at tehsil level. Proper diagnostic equipment must be provided to provide healthy and antibiotic free meat. Veterinary staff and their families which are reported to be at highest risk of protracting disease must be provided with health hazard allowance or at least facilities to get free of cost vaccine and treatment across the country. The meat selling points need to be at least hygienic if not according to modern standards. And the most importantly a bitter pill to swallow up till then is to increase the rates of meat or provision of subsidy so that it can give profit margin to the producer, otherwise it will be merely a utopian dream to have healthy meat in the country and donkey’s meat will keep finding its place in the market.