Lobito - The National Federation of Livestock Cooperatives of Angola (FENACOOPA) is in a position to supply fifty percent of its meat needs to the national market, its chairman, Salvador Rodrigues said. Speaking to the press on Saturday, he assured that the number of animals that exist in Angola can meet this need.
He defended, however, the need to reorganize the logistical structure to prevent cattle from being slaughtered without conditions in the parallel markets.
'The conservation and transport of animals to slaughter centers must be improved, in conditions of hygiene and safety, in accordance with international rules,' he said.
'Today, we have enough cattle, although with some deficiency in terms of quality,' the president clarified.
Referring to FENACOOPA, he said it is made up of twenty cooperatives, from the north to the south of the country.
It established as the first action of the newly created Federation, to enhance human capital with knowledge to improve its performance and organization of its farms.
'We are on the right track. We have cattle ranchers from Cabinda to Cunene and only united can we achieve the recommended objectives', he concluded.
In turn, the chairman of the General Assembly, Joaquim de Almeida Júnior, said that the livestock sector can grow and develop in a sustainable way, corresponding to the wishes of the Angolan Executive, with regard to increasing the production of meat and meat products to meet the needs of domestic consumption and reduce imports.
'Our country has excellent conditions for this purpose, as we have land, water and human resources, as well as favorable climatic factors, so that, with well-designed and concerted policies, a safe step can be taken for the development of the sector, in the short term', he considered.
For Joaquim de Almeida Júnior, if this is the case, counting on the partnership of the State in terms of financing and the imposition of rules that aim to combat unfair competition and other negative practices, such as the case of cattle theft, the livestock sector will certainly have a new path and a new future'. CT/CRB/DOJ