Meat firm to offer camel products

By Macharia Kamau and Fredrick OburaKenya Meat Commission will diversify its product portfolio from the traditional beef and mutton to include camel meat and other value added products.The company intends to export 70 per cent of products processed at its Athi River plant to tap in to the international market.Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) Managing Commissioner Ali Hassan said young camel’s meat is a premium product in Middle East and can fetch good prices. Currently, Kenya exports livestock including thousands of camels to the Arab world.Hassan said deeper exploration of the market and product diversification were part of the turn around plan for the firm, which has been experiencing multifaceted problems even after relaunching in 2006."KMC has not been in the market for more than 15 years and will definitely need a lot of efforts to turn it around. But we have a plan in place, which should see it return to profitability by June next year," he said.KMC has marked United Arab Emirates and Egypt as markets with high potential for its meat products. Others include Sri Lanka, Seychelles and some countries in Eastern Europe.African countriesPrior to its closure in the 1990s, the firm had been supplying Europe, but other African countries like Botswana have taken up its quota in the EU market. Hassan said the firm has made progress in the recent past, from recording losses of between Sh30 to 40 million a month early in the year to Sh8 million in October.Financial difficulties that have hampered its operations and a high turn of senior staff are among the problems that the firm has experienced after its reopening.It was also in a scuffle with the government following the death of hundreds of animals during the off take programmes that were supposed to save pastoralists from losses, after their animals were hard hit by the drought experienced in the country.Hassan said the firm had potential to move past the woes and become a key player in the livestock sub sector that currently contributes slightly more three per cent to the economy.He added that there has been a disconnect between the market, especially export, and farmers because of the lack of information among farmers about the standards required in these markets and hence confined them to the Kenyan market.To improve awareness and improve the quality of beef products, the firm is lobbying the Government to set up controlled areas, referred to as disease free zones, in the Coastal area and Laikipia district.Through the areas, the Commission said it would assist livestock farmers take specialised care of their animals before slaughter and ensure quality meat. The areas would also assure the meat processor of steady supply of livestock as well as provide pastoralists with a ground for destocking whenever pastures or watering areas are stretched."We are unable to capture key export markets because we cannot guarantee consistent supply of high quality meat," said Hassan.—emacharia@standardmedia.co.ke

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