The Hindu Business Line : `Ban meat exports'

THE Union Government should ban export of meat, as the ``myopic policy'' is not only encouraging mindless slaughter of lakhs of dumb creatures (cattle and sheep) but proving to be very harmful to the rural economy and the agricultural sector, Mr R.K Joshi, animal welfare activist and a trustee of the Mumbai-based Viniyog Parivar Trust championing the cause, has said.

At a press meet here on Saturday, Mr Joshi said the plea for the ban was not based on sentimental or religious grounds alone, but on hard economic facts and impartial studies had proved beyond doubt that the losses resulting from such a policy far outweighed the gains (earnings of Rs 1,000 crore or so at present from meat exports) and the Union Government should review its policy, as cattle were so vital for production of food and fodder and formed an inseparable part of the rural economy.

He said the P.V Narasimha Rao Government had declared in 1992-93 that meat exports was ``a thrust area'', offering incentives and subsidies for the purpose, and since then exports had gone up by leaps and bounds. ``In 2000-2001, 2,68,000 tonnes of meat were exported and the Government claims this is only four per cent 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.'' He said the Planning Commission, in the process of formulating the Tenth Plan, had made known its intention of doubling the earnings from meat exports from the present level of Rs 1,000 crore and a sub-group in the Union Agriculture Ministry had been appointed for the purpose.

He urged the Union Government to ignore the meat export lobby and review the policy impartially.

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