An Insight Into Uganda's Meat Production Industry

An Insight Into Uganda's Meat Production Industry

Meat is a vital source of nutrients globally, providing protein, vitamins A, D, E, and K as well as several minerals. The demand for meat has rapidly surged over the past few years attributable to income and population growth, and urbanization. In Uganda, the trend mirrors the global picture, with beef production standing at 217 million kg in 2020 and an annual growth rate of 4.7% for beef and 4.4% for mutton and goat (FAO, 2018). The meat production industry in Uganda has undergone significant evolution, transitioning from handling indigenous livestock breeds to introducing new, high-quality meat producers. The indigenous breeds dominate the meat production in the country. The meat value chain too has advanced right from the farms, to the transportation of animals to slaughterhouses, to the production process and distribution to retail locations and food service centers. To continue improving this industry, it is crucial to learn from past experiences and current practices while also designing better processes through research and exposure.

In Uganda, animals are slaughtered in various places including farm gates, village markets, town slaughter slabs, and slaughterhouses or abattoirs where most food manufacturers buy their meat. Therefore, the design of an abattoir should ensure a correct sequence of operations that encourages efficiency while discouraging contamination and cross-contamination for the protection of public health. This video provides an inside look at the current state of slaughterhouse production processes in Kalerwe abbatoir, found in Kalerwe market, one of Uganda's largest and most vibrant marketplaces. The video showcases the arrival of livestock, such as cattle and goats at the abattoir, the process of slaughtering, skinning, and butchering.

The video also captures the vibrant role of Kalerwe abattoir in the meat supply chain and highlights the hygiene and meat safety measures to ensure the quality of the meat sold in Uganda’s bustling meat industry. It also offers valuable insight for researchers, policymakers, private sector stakeholders, and the population to facilitate the development of Uganda's meat production industry.

Watch: Meat Production Doccumentary!

Reference:
FAO (2018). Africa Sustainable Livestock 2050: Transforming Livestock Sector Uganda (What do long-term projections say?).

Written by Ssozi Joshua
Reviewed by Ms. Mwima Sandrah

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