Volume - Indian Dairy Association

27provider of safe meat, it is necessary that a perceptible shift from unorganizedto organized sector takes place. Currently, only buffalo meat export is wellorganized and 0.5 million tonnes of buffalo meat worth US$ 600 million wasexported in 2008‐09. The potential which exist for export of buffalo meat andpoultry products especially to Asian and African countries should be exploitedas an immediate strategy.3.11 The Meat and Poultry Processing Board setup recently in 2009 by theMinistry of Food Processing would provide considerable impetus for meatprocessing sector. However, the production side still remains unaddressed.With the likelihood of CODEX standards becoming applicable in the next fouryears time, the traceability issue would be a major concern for meat exportsector. For overcoming this problem, probably in future, large commercialmeat farms may have to be set up exclusively for rearing animals for meatpurpose.3.12 Very little effort has been made by Animal Husbandry department bothat state and central level for development and growth of small ruminantsector. Presently, no effective centrally sponsored / central sector schemes areavailable for providing much needed assistance. The vast potential ofdeveloping goat sector, which exists in some of the regions like Bundelkhand,parts of Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh needs to be beneficially harnessed. Afocused approach with higher investment, community approach, establishingmeat processing plant and developing adequate market linkages is to be made.3.13 Development of sheep sector has been at crossroads. The populationhas stagnated during the last two decades except for a marginal increase ofabout 6 per cent between 1997 and 2003. The wool production has alsoremained constant at 40 million kg, of which 4 million kg is of fine wool. Thetrade policy of permitting import of wool under OGL has affected domestictraditional market. A clear cut policy direction is needed on priority as towhether the focus should continue to raise sheep for wool production or thefocus should shift towards mutton production.3.14 The North Eastern region holds considerable potential for developingPiggery sector as the pig husbandry is the most important activity in the statesof North East especially in the tribal areas. Even though more than 80 per centof the pork produced in the country is consumed in north eastern region, noserious attempts have been made by the state governments, central