Over the last five years, the country has seen an increase of 41% in domestic meat production, helping to reduce the deficit in meeting domestic consumption, which currently stands at an average of four percent.

The data is contained in the 2023 Livestock Production Balance released yesterday, Wednesday (03), by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADER), during the III National Livestock Forum.

According to the data cited by Terra MagazineMozambique currently produces around 96% of the chicken meat needed to meet basic national consumption demand, estimated at 159,847 tons per year, which puts the deficit for achieving self-sufficiency at four percent (just over 6,000 tons).

As far as beef is concerned, national production already covers 94% of domestic consumption needs, estimated at 22,522 tons per year, putting the deficit at just over a thousand tons.

On the verge of self-sufficiency is the production of meat from small ruminants, namely goats and sheep, which, according to the balance sheet, already covers 98% of domestic consumption needs, estimated at 3,987 tons per year.

Although production levels are close to self-sufficiency, the country still has a large volume of imported meat, especially chicken, a considerable part of which is smuggled in, affecting the competitiveness of domestic production in terms of price.

(Photo DR)