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MPI slashes prices for meat

Staff Reporter

The Government-owned unit to enhance production

KOCHI: Meat Products of India (MPI), a Government of Kerala undertaking, has cut meat prices for the ensuing Christmas-New Year Season. Prices have been cut between 10 and 25 per cent for 11 products and the new prices have become effective from Friday.

The prices were cut in the face of entry of meat products from Sri Lanka and other Sates into the local market, said a press release from the Government-owned company here.

The press release said that MPI planned to raise production from the current level of 300 tonnes to 600 tonnes. Modernisation of the MPI facilities was on for the purpose. It had also decided that production at the pig and rabbit farms would be increased. Piglets production would be doubled to 4,800 and the number of rabbits farmed will be doubled to 15,000, said the press release.

It said that MPI planned to raise meat animals on a franchisee basis with technical help from the company using voluntary agencies and enterprises under the Kudumbashree mission.

It is expected that 20,000 piglets and 35,000 rabbits can be raised through this channel.

MPI promised to provide technical help to local administrative bodies for setting up abattoirs. If meat produced in these units was found to be of the quality prescribed by MPI, it could be sold under the MPI brand.

The press release requested local bodies interested in setting up these facilities to contact the company.

Another of MPI programmes was to help promote the growth of organic meat. MPI planned to encourage organic raising of rabbits and ducks considering the demand for organic meat in the export market. MPI would also promote farming of rabbits, quails, goats and pigs through self-help groups and Kudumbashree units.

It is expected that 140 tonnes of rabbit meat, 70 tonnes of quail meat, 200 tonnes of mutton and 300 tonnes pork can be produced through these groups. MPI has sought permission from the Government to procure meat directly from these units avoiding middlemen and tender procedures. MPI was also exploring possibilities of export of meat to European market from next year onwards.

In the meanwhile, MPI decided to launch a campaign to create awareness about problems caused by unscientific production of meat.

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