Goa is making its debut in the international beef export market with shipments to the Middle East being sent through the Goa Meat Complex. A total of 28.5 tonnes of frozen beef was loaded in a consignment to Iraq on Wednesday. The initiative comes as part of a partnership between govt-run Goa Meat Complex and the Karnataka-based Sunface Agrofoods Pvt Ltd.
“This is the first time we are supplying frozen beef to Iraq,” said Goa Meat Complex MD, Rajesh Kenny.
“Goa Meat Complex has signed an agreement with Sunface Agrofoods Pvt Ltd to use the surplus capacity of the abattoir for exports. They will therefore export beef to foreign countries though the complex. We have a contract with seven to eight countries for export and have the capacity to supply about 20 containers per month,” he said.
The Goa Meat Complex’s abattoir at Usgao, which can handle up to 300 animals per day, has been equipped with advanced blast freezing technology. This system, set up by Sunface Agrofoods Pvt Ltd, allows freshly slaughtered livestock to be frozen rock-solid within 30 minutes, ensuring it remains fresh for international transport.
“Beef produced by the Goa Meat Complex is capable of meeting international export standards, including those set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
(FSSAI) and the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA),” said Kenny.
Despite Goa’s limited supply of cattle, the beef for export will primarily be sourced from neighbouring states.
“Goa doesn’t have enough animals, so we will source them from Karnataka and Maharashtra. We have Bahrain, Kuwait and the UAE on our export list currently,” Kenny added.
The Goa Meat Complex has already submitted applications to export beef to various Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
A delegation from Egypt is also expected to visit the abattoir in Feb to evaluate the facility for possible exports to the North African nation.
The exporter, Sunface Agrofoods, had previously been supplying cattle for domestic consumption but is now prepared to take on the responsibility of beef exports.
“It took us three years to upgrade the Goa Meat Complex’s processing plant for packing, blast freezing, cold storage, etc.
These facilities are now ready, and we are therefore able to begin exporting,” said MD of Sunface Agrofoods Pvt Ltd, Asim Chikodi.
“The meat exported from the Goa Meat Complex is guaranteed to meet international hygiene standards and will be certified for export by APEDA. Goa is on track to become a competitive player in the international meat trade as an exporter of high-quality beef,” he added.