Processing firm urges FG to regulate abattoirs for wholesome meat production
The Reds and Greens Agriculture Processing Factory, has called on the Federal Government to regulate the activities of abattoirs to ensure proper hygiene for wholesome meat production.
The factory’s Executive Director, Mr Kenneth Okonkwo, made the assertion in Lagos when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the inauguration of a 75 tons capacity meat processing facility on Monday.
Okonkwo said that the factory, inaugurated on Saturday, was out to address poor handling of meat which could cause food poisoning and endanger the lives of the populace.
``It is very important to ensure that the meat consumed is wholesome and that is why the government should regulate abattoirs across the country.
``Reds and Greens Agriculture Processing Factory realises this and that is why we have taken steps to further make sure that all our meats are processed properly for customers.
``Livestock products like cow, chicken, pork, goat and others are very prone to diseases and should not be consumed by humans if not adequately processed,’’ Okonkwo said.
He said that cattle farmers in the North and other parts of Nigeria, pig and poultry farmers and others were engaged to produce while the firm acts as off-takers.
Mrs Isioma Emina, a Managing Partner in the firm, said that the sector was not properly structured, adding that there were not enough data to work with.
Emina said that a 260kg of cattle could only give about 80 per cent of boneless beef and because there was no data, it was difficult to estimate.
``We wanted to start off with the production of dog food, but again we thought why not just produce meat and in turn service the dog food production section.
``The sector is not structured and we wanted to produce meat in a clean environment and still sell very cheap.
``The government has not really paid attention to the sector. We had to do a lot of work when we started because we had to train the butchers.
``There is no data to work with. When you kill a cow you get 80 per cent after removing the bones, so that alone can make you run at a loss,’’ she said.
Meanwhile, Mrs Deborah Ewelana, a customer who was at the inauguration, said she was surprised at the cost of a kilogramme of beef compared to the current price in the market.
Ewelana told NAN that she was not expecting to get a kilogramme of cow meat at N1,300 and a full locally processed chicken at N900.
The factory’s Executive Director, Mr Kenneth Okonkwo, made the assertion in Lagos when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the inauguration of a 75 tons capacity meat processing facility on Monday.
Okonkwo said that the factory, inaugurated on Saturday, was out to address poor handling of meat which could cause food poisoning and endanger the lives of the populace.
``It is very important to ensure that the meat consumed is wholesome and that is why the government should regulate abattoirs across the country.
``Reds and Greens Agriculture Processing Factory realises this and that is why we have taken steps to further make sure that all our meats are processed properly for customers.
``Livestock products like cow, chicken, pork, goat and others are very prone to diseases and should not be consumed by humans if not adequately processed,’’ Okonkwo said.
He said that cattle farmers in the North and other parts of Nigeria, pig and poultry farmers and others were engaged to produce while the firm acts as off-takers.
Mrs Isioma Emina, a Managing Partner in the firm, said that the sector was not properly structured, adding that there were not enough data to work with.
Emina said that a 260kg of cattle could only give about 80 per cent of boneless beef and because there was no data, it was difficult to estimate.
``We wanted to start off with the production of dog food, but again we thought why not just produce meat and in turn service the dog food production section.
``The sector is not structured and we wanted to produce meat in a clean environment and still sell very cheap.
``The government has not really paid attention to the sector. We had to do a lot of work when we started because we had to train the butchers.
``There is no data to work with. When you kill a cow you get 80 per cent after removing the bones, so that alone can make you run at a loss,’’ she said.
Meanwhile, Mrs Deborah Ewelana, a customer who was at the inauguration, said she was surprised at the cost of a kilogramme of beef compared to the current price in the market.
Ewelana told NAN that she was not expecting to get a kilogramme of cow meat at N1,300 and a full locally processed chicken at N900.
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