TANZANIA – The quantity of high-quality meat exports from Tanzania is set to rise following the inauguration of a new US$10 million modern abattoir in Mvomero District, Morogoro
The new meat processing facility, named Nguru Hills Ranch ltd has the capacity to slaughter 100 cattle and 1,000 goats per day, according to reports by the local press.
It aims to increase the amount of high-quality meat exported by Tanzania in a bid to increase foreign exchange earnings and create job opportunities for the citizens.
During the recent launching ceremony of the abattoir, the minister of Livestock and Fisheries Mr Mashimba Ndaki reported that the government’s efforts to invest in modern livestock slaughtering projects aim to create a reliable market in the meat sector to help fight poverty in Tanzania.
He said: “When more investors are attracted to the sector, it means that the living standards of the livestock keepers, who form a majority of the Tanzanian population, improve, making this a wise decision aimed at uplifting the people’s livelihoods”
In other countries such as Qatar, Jordan, and Kenya demand for meat is growing significantly presenting an opportunity for Tanzania, which has one of the largest numbers of cattle in the region, to tap into.
Mr Ndaki, in collaboration with the government, is inviting and promoting investments in meat processing plants, construction of more modern abattoirs, and the meat industry as a whole.
Tanzania is also looking to explore the Chinese market following the recent signing of a trade agreement between the two nations during president Samia Suluhu’s visit to China.
The new abattoir is a joint venture between the Public Service Social Security Fund PSSSF and two other shareholders namely Eclipse Investment and Busara Investment company.
From the invested US$ 10 million, PSSSF contributed US$3.9M making it a shareholder of 39%, Eclipse Investment owning 46%, and Busara Investment Company the remaining 15% shares.
The facility comprises of a 2328 hectares grazing area capable of accommodating 10,000 cattle and 15,000 goats simultaneously and 5 wells of water that can source 20,000 litres every hour.
Mr Mashimba reported that the construction of the abattoir has created 350 direct job opportunities thus far and more than 2000 others in the entire value chain. It has also created a reliable meat industry market and improved the livelihoods of livestock farmers.
Morogoro Regional Commissioner Mrs Fatuma Mwasa affirmed that there are strategies that have been put in place to ensure the abattoir meets the set targets such as the allocation of 30,00 acres of land to the development of 5 ranches in which livestock will be bred, raised and sold to the investors.
Due to prospects for reliable markets of meat from Tanzania abroad, efforts are underway to improve animal productivity to go hand in hand with the investments to be made.
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