BEIJING: As China has a supply gap of beef and Pakistan has sufficient capacity, it was hoped that Pakistani beef will soon enter the Chinese market, says a report.
According to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2019-20, more than 8 million rural households in Pakistan engage in livestock production which contributes to 35% to 40% of their total income.
Over the years, animal husbandry has surpassed farm production and become the biggest contributor to value-added agriculture.
Pakistan has 208 million food animals, with a milk output of over 60 million tons and an annual production of 20 billion eggs, Khurshid Ahmad, Animal Husbandry Commissioner, Ministry of National Food Security and Research, said.
Compared with Pakistan, China is a large meat importer. In 2020, China’s beef production reached 6.72 million tons, and the import volume reached 2.1183 million tons with an increase of 27.65%, setting the beef import record.
China’s annual output of beef and mutton adds up to 10 million tons, said Li Jinghui, Deputy Secretary General of China Animal Agriculture Association and President of White-feathered Broiler Alliance, adding that “China’s per capita output is a few kilograms, which fails to meet domestic needs. That’s why there are millions of tons of imports.”
The report says, China is a major meat importer while animal husbandry plays an important role in the economy of Pakistan, yet annual meat trade between the two countries is very small.
So far, China has not opened the door of Pakistani beef import, as Pakistan is still on China’s “List of Animals and Their Products in the Countries and Regions with A Prevalent Animal Epidemic Situation Banned for Entry”. – Agencies
