Experts agree that the different public policies and international policies related to the meat sector must be predictable over time and Paraguay should aim to access a greater number of markets, which will also improve the price.
This was stated by José Carlos Martín, head of the National Animal Health Service (Senacsa), and Mario Balmelli, president of the Meat Commission of the Rural Association of Paraguay (ARP), who addressed the issue “Paraguayan meat and its potential. The socio-economic development from its production, industrialization and export”, during Plaza Pública DENDE, under the moderation of Yan Speranza and the opening of Alberto Acosta Garbarino, head of the organization.
Currently, 11 countries account for 83% of all meat imports in the world, while 4 countries account for 65%. Despite Paraguay is among the 10 exporters in the worldis not present in the markets of China, the United States, Japan and South Korea.
During the discussion it was stated that by 2030 it is expected that 66% of the entire world population will have their middle class in Asiafor which Paraguay must improve the lobby to enter these markets.
Regarding the other markets, the head of Senacsa commented that the opening of the United States market is expected for April of next year, which will also allow the opening of the Canadian market, with which 30,000 tons of meat in both markets.
They also added that there are important advances in the opening of the markets of Japan and South Korea. It is estimated that in the case of Japan, the opening could take place in seven years.
Likewise, Martin highlighted that at the initiative of Senacsa this year the first typification of Paraguay was approved, a regulatory system that allows the homogenization and standardization of the quality and type of product when it comes out and is offered to the different markets.
This was achieved after two years of work with producers, industrialists, the Academy (where Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine from the National University of Asunción were invited), and the certifying companies.
He added that the President of the Republic, Mario Abdo, asked to continue with the pproject to create the Paraguayan Meat Institutebut first he wants the agreement between the producers and industrialists to advance in the process.
Paraguay currently has 13,500,000 head of cattle and has approximately 138,000 producers registered, of which 87% have less than 100 head of cattle. Although 52% of livestock production is still concentrated in the Eastern Region, in the Western Region sustained growth has been recorded in recent years, although within the export circuit, 60% of the meat that Paraguay exports comes from the Chaco, due to the commercial and business profile that handles.
It is estimated that this year there will be 330,000 tons of meat exports, which will allow an approximate income of 2,000 million dollars, despite the fact that China, which represents 30% of the world protein market, is experiencing a recession.
For his part, the head of DENDE, Alberto Acosta Garbarino, pointed out that today meat is an important source of foreign currency income for the country and the growth that it has been registering generates the challenge of access to the main markets. The largest are the United States, China, Japan and Korea; but Paraguay today does not have access to any of these markets.
Finally, Yan Speranza said that the meat sector is extremely important for Paraguayan society, and recalled that 87% of livestock producers have less than 100 heads, which is a very unique reality in Paraguay, unlike the large producers from other countries that are more concentrated in the large producers.
