Coarse Grain Cereal Prices; No regulations on meat slaughter will lead to health problems

Coarse Grain Cereal Prices

Government of India has announced a hike in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all coarse cereals for the Kharif season. The prices have been hiked by Rs.100 – 150 per ton. The current prices are as under:

Bajra (Pearl Millet): Rs.5250 ($121) up from Rs.5150 ($118) per ton
Barley: Rs.5400 ($124) per ton up from Rs.5250 ($121) per ton
Jowar (Grain Sorghum): Rs.5250 ($121) up from Rs.5150 ($118) per ton
Maize (Corn): Rs.5400 ($124) up from Rs.5250 ($121) per ton

Reports suggest that the inflation for the week ending April 23, 2005 hit a high of 5.91 percent, due to price increases in Vegetables, Bajra (Pearl Millet, Oil etc). Last year the inflation for the same period was 4.32 percent.

The coarse cereal prices for different varieties are stable in the markets across the country except for Jowar (Sorghum) which has shown an upward trend. The major hike in Jowar prices is being seen in Maharashtra and Rajasthan where the prices have moved to a high of Rs.7830 ($180) per ton and Rs.10745 ($247) per ton respectively, which is much higher than the MSP as well.

In case of Maize (corn) the prices are also slightly higher than the last week in states of Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. In all the above states the prices are ranging from Rs.5450 ($125) to a high of Rs.6500 ($151) per ton, which is again higher than the MSP announced by government of India.

The spot prices are Nizamabad and Davangere and reported at Rs.5255 ($121) per ton and Rs.5310 ($122) per ton.

CBOT closed at $2.0825 per bushel ($81.96 per ton) for July delivery. The FOB US Gulf would range from $98 – 100 per ton.

No regulations on meat slaughter will lead to health problems for communities and consumers in developing countries.
According to the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), countries in Latin America, Asia and Africa will be the world’s leading producers of animal products by 2020. Apart from production the consumption of animal products will also increase in these countries due to increase in wealth. It is estimated that meat consumption in India will rise to 6 kg per person by 2020 (IFPRI).

With little or no regulation presently in place to control inputs or outputs of animal farming in most developing countries, the health of communities and consumers is of great concern.

The major infections are caused by E coli, Campylobactor and Salmonella which are present in the environment and on all meats. Putting systems in place which will check the health status of the animals prior to slaughter (Ante Motrem) and after slaughter (Post Mortem) would be a factor, but how the systems are implemented is a big question.

Though many reports suggest regulating production systems and move away from the intensive systems to free range or organic, it does not solve the problem. The problems exist where processing systems are primitive or non- existing and in addition there are no systems in place which can create an environment of confidence for the consumer.

Regulating live markets and street slaughter should be the first step. The second logical step would be to set up infrastructure for co-operative/common slaughter facilities in hygienic conditions.

Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India does provide grants to State Governments and Municipal corporations to set up slaughter facilities.

It is high time, the industry rises to the occasion and joins hands with local bodies, state government and the federal government to create the kind of infrastructure that will promote hygienic meat production and consumption.

Amit Sachdev
Representative
U S Grains Council, India
bluecross303@gmail.com