A ₹15,000-cr industry, its 25L employees stare at uncertainty
NEW DELHI: The BJP’s poll manifesto promised to shut down illegal slaughterhouses and place curbs on mechanical abattoirs in the state. The manifesto said the concerns were about UP’s livestock that suffered during previous dispensations. Though cow slaughter in banned in UP, there is no curb on killing buffaloes. Here’s a look at UP’s abattoirs and what drives the business:
What does it take to start an abattoir?
An applicant can submit his proposal to the industries department after procuring land for the unit. It is then sent to the UPPCB, which forwards it to the district magistrate (DM) for clearance. A panel formed by the DM visits the project site and examines it on various parameters, law and order being an important factor. After the administration’s nod, the proposal is sent back to the UPPCB for a no-objection certificate (NOC). A team of UPPCB officials also visits the project site to ensure it conforms to air, water and other environmental pollution norms. The plant owner then moves an application before the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), the Union government’s regulatory body that monitors exports of all products. Before granting approval, the APEDA carries out its own inspection of the meat products, processing plants, storage and conveyance facilities.
Slaughter houses in UP
Of the 72 government-approved abattoirs across the country, 38 are in UP. These include four government-run units, of which only two — Agra and Saharanpur — are functional. The other two are proposed in Lucknow and Bareilly. A minimum of 10-acres is needed to set up an IMPP at a cost of ₹40-50 crore.
Why do illegal slaughterhouses flourish?
Most of the 38 slaughterhouses in UP cater to exports. Buffalo meat from India has a good demand in Gulf countries due to low cost and assurance of being halal. Hence, local demands are met by illegal or standalone slaughterhouses.
How are buffaloes procured?
Each abattoir slaughters between 300 and 3,000 livestock daily. They procure buffaloes, sheep and goat that become ‘spent’ for their owners/farmers. UP slaughterhouses have permission to kill a bullock over 15 years old or unfit for agriculture.
How big is the industry?
UP is the market leader in production and export of meat in the country. There is no record of illegal animal slaughter and the quantity of meat produced from animals butchered illegally but rough estimates suggest that 140 slaughterhouses and over 50,000 meat shops don’t have permission. As per an APEDA report, UP is the highest producer of meat with 19.1% share, followed by Andhra Pradesh at 15.2% and West Bengal at 10.9%. Data from the state’s animal husbandry department shows that from 2008-09 to 2014-15, the state produced 7,515.14 lakhkg buffalo meat, 1,171.65 lakhkg goat meat, 230.99 lakhkg sheep meat.
How does Centre support the industry?
The Centre encourages the meat industry and the food processing ministry by providing aid of up to 50% of the cost of setting up a unit. UP accounts for nearly 50% of India’s total meat exports and more than 25 lakh people are associated with the industry directly or indirectly, according to the All India Meat and Livestock Exporters’ Association.