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Beef Exports Up 44% In 4 Years
India Is Top Seller In The World
According to a Times of India report dated April 1, 2013, India, homeland of the sacred cow has become the world’s leading beef exporter in 2013. Last year itself, USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service forecasts showed that India would ship roughly 1.5 million metric tons of beef, passing reigning export champion Australia. It’s a remarkable rise from just three years ago, when this famously bovine-friendly country exported less than half that amount.
The Central government’s Pink Revolution to promote meat production and export has led to a 44% increase in meat consumption and export in four years, but it has failed to regulate the industry.
It certainly seems surprising at first, that a nation widely known for revering the cow would be a beef exporter at all.
According to data compiled by the animal husbandry departments of all states, meat from registered slaughterhouses increased from 5.57 lakh tonnes in 2008 to 8.05 lakh tonnes in 2011. Export earnings from bovine (beef and cattle) meat touched Rs 18,000 crore in 2012-2013.
The Central government’s Pink Revolution to promote meat production and export has led to a 44% increase in meat consumption and export in four years, but it has failed to regulate the industry.
It certainly seems surprising at first, that a nation widely known for revering the cow would be a beef exporter at all.
According to data compiled by the animal husbandry departments of all states, meat from registered slaughterhouses increased from 5.57 lakh tonnes in 2008 to 8.05 lakh tonnes in 2011. Export earnings from bovine (beef and cattle) meat touched Rs 18,000 crore in 2012-2013.
Indian beef exports for 2012 were forecast at 1.525 million MT, 25% higher than the previous year and an almost three fold increase in the past 10 years.
Though beef meeting international standards reaches markets in the Europe, the Gulf and South-East Asia, the way animals are transported and slaughtered is extremely cruel and far from international standards. “There is rampant abuse of animals in transport and slaughter of meat whether for domestic consumption or export,” says Arpan Sharma, CEO of Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations.
India’s Central government has taken up modernization of abattoirs and storage facilities on a war footing. The food processing ministry announced subsidies of over 4000 crores to modernize abattoirs.
There are 38 integrated abattoirs in the country which slaughter for export. This is apart from thousands of other abattoirs which are operating unofficially. Agricultural and Processed Food Exports Development Authority (APEDA) is responsible for overseeing their operations.
India’s Central government has taken up modernization of abattoirs and storage facilities on a war footing. The food processing ministry announced subsidies of over 4000 crores to modernize abattoirs.
There are 38 integrated abattoirs in the country which slaughter for export. This is apart from thousands of other abattoirs which are operating unofficially. Agricultural and Processed Food Exports Development Authority (APEDA) is responsible for overseeing their operations.
Himalayan Academy explains it:
The cow represents the giving nature of life to every Hindu. Honoring this gentle animal, who gives more than she takes, we honor all creatures. Hindus regard all living creatures as sacred—mammals, fishes, birds and more. We acknowledge this reverence for life in our special affection for the cow. At festivals we decorate and honor her. To the Hindu, the cow symbolizes all other creatures. The cow is a symbol of the Earth, the nourisher, the ever-giving, undemanding provider. The cow represents life and the sustenance of life. The cow is so generous, taking nothing but water, grass and grain. She gives and gives and gives of her milk, as does the liberated soul gives of his spiritual knowledge. The cow is so vital to life, the virtual sustainer of life, for many humans. The cow is a symbol of grace and abundance. Veneration of the cow instills in Hindus the virtues of gentleness, receptivity and connectedness with nature.
None of the meat exporters pay attention to the condition of animals. Crammed in lorries, the animals are transported without food and water. Police officers let vehicles through without fining them for overloading as per the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
The international practice of stunning an animal before slaughter is not followed in India. In Kerala, cows are killed by hammer blows.
India overtakes Australia, Brazil, and the United States in beef export, in that order. Each of those nations will export around 1.2-1.4m metric tons of beef this year. India’s beef is mostly sold in the Middle East, North Africa, and Southeast Asia with some portion going to European nations.
International community is shocked that a nation in which cow slaughter is officially prohibited and is an utter anathema to the majority of the population, will overtake these three icons (Australia, Brazil and US) of cattle ranching and beef eating.
This is just an indication of the efforts and planning the central government is putting in to accomplish this ‘feat’.
The international practice of stunning an animal before slaughter is not followed in India. In Kerala, cows are killed by hammer blows.
India overtakes Australia, Brazil, and the United States in beef export, in that order. Each of those nations will export around 1.2-1.4m metric tons of beef this year. India’s beef is mostly sold in the Middle East, North Africa, and Southeast Asia with some portion going to European nations.
International community is shocked that a nation in which cow slaughter is officially prohibited and is an utter anathema to the majority of the population, will overtake these three icons (Australia, Brazil and US) of cattle ranching and beef eating.
This is just an indication of the efforts and planning the central government is putting in to accomplish this ‘feat’.
“From government side there is an article that in Iran they want meat, so all these skinny cows should be killed and meat should be exported so that you can get oil economically. One should not think of this religious sentiment. People should be practical. They should not object. Government is going to open many slaughterhouses and kill these loitering, mischief cows.
So government policy is that religion is the opiate of the masses. It is a sentiment. It has no value. That is government conclusion.... To their point
of view, it is useless. So under the circumstances, we have to make vigorous propaganda, public opinion. You see? Therefore I suggest that various meetings should be arranged in big, big halls and public meeting so that public may understand, at least, that this movement is very important.”
~ Srila Prabhupada (Room Conversation, March 20, 1974, Bombay)
