Lagos trains 400 butchers on abattoir magt, wholesome meat processing



Lagos State Government said it has trained at least 400 butchers and live cattle dealers drawn from various abattoirs and slaughter slabs on current trends in abattoir management.
The three-day training programme which centered on the standard operating procedures in abattoir was organized by the state Ministry of Agriculture, as part of the ongoing reformation in the red meat value chain in the state.
Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Oluwatoyin Suarau, who disclosed this at the presentation of certificate to participants, said the training was part of effort aimed at ensuring and maintaining a hygienic and conducive environment within abattoirs and wholesomeness in the red meat value chain business in Lagos.
Suarau, who noted that there was the need for attitudinal change by stakeholders and concessionaires in the red-meat-value chain business especially in the areas of operational procedures and abattoir management stressed that these are major determinant in the wholesomeness of the meat and meat produce from various abattoirs.
He added that the state government in addressing these challenges sponsored some butchers, live cattle dealers and other stakeholders in the red meat value chain business on a study tour of Kenya and Botswana Red Meat Industry.
“The aim of the tour then was to expose the butchers to the international standard of operation in the industry towards improving the hygiene status in all the approved abattoirs and slaughter slabs in the state and to ensure wholesomeness in the meat that is locally consume”, Suarau said.
The commissioner disclosed that the Kenya-Botswana declaration of 2014 resulted in an agreement between the state government and the stakeholders that every stage of the meat value chain should be upgraded to encourage export of meat and meat products.
“As at today most of the slaughter slabs in the state have been upgraded to a semi mechanized abattoir; some of these are Matori, Achakpo and Ikorodu abattoirs while upgrading of Ologe, Ibiye and Ilaje abattoirs are ongoing and will be completed soon”, Suarau said.
While presenting certificate to participants who were trained on various aspect such as; Hygiene in Abattoir and slaughter houses; Standard Operating Procedures on Abattoir Practices among others, the commissioner therefore, charged them to put to use what they have learnt and cascade the training in their various abattoirs and slaughter slabs.
Responding, the Chairman Lagos State Butchers’ Association Mr. Alabi Bamidele Kazeem said this is the first time government organized a capacity building to butchers adding that it is a sign of better things to come in the near future.

He implored the participants to train other butchers who are not opportune to participate in the training, so the objective of the programme can be achieved.

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