Total meat production (beef, small ruminants, pork and chicken) in Mozambique grew by 4.5% in 2023, rising from 174,000 to 181,700 tonnes.
According to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADER), 21,100 tonnes of beef were produced, corresponding to a growth of around 5% compared to 2022, when the figure stood at 20,000 tonnes.
“The growth in beef production is the result of intensified implementation of measures to control the movement of animals, control cattle theft and clandestine slaughter, improve sanitary and reproductive management and improved animal genetics and livestock promotion fairs,” he said.
In the period under review, the production of meat from small ruminants (goats and sheep) was 3926 tonnes, compared to 3725 tonnes in 2022, which represented a growth of 5%.
According to the document, chicken meat production also grew by 4% last year, from 146,600 tonnes to 152,700 tonnes, a process that was driven by an increase in the number of poultry farmers, the expansion of poultry farms, the fight against chicken smuggling, increased production and the availability of corn and soya.
MADER also emphasised that there were new private investments in slaughtering and meat processing infrastructures throughout the country.
Overall, the report revealed that SADC produces around 4.2 million tonnes of red meat, with South Africa standing out with a production of 1.5 million tonnes.
