March 21, 2011

Ukraine's economic ministry sees meat output rise of 5%

The Ukrainian Ministry of Economic Development and Trade expects better production of meat and meat products this year by 5.4% or 111,000 tonnes to 2.17 million tonnes, as compared with 2010, the ministry said.

According to balance of demand and supply of meat and meat products in 2011, expected volume of domestic meat production is 2,170 tonnes, while the production in 2010 was 2,059 tonnes.

In 2011, meat importation was supposed to be reduced as compared to 2010 by 35% to 287,000 tonnes.

In 2010, meat and meat products consumption per capital in Ukraine was 52 kilos and 49.7 kilos in 2009. In 2011, growth of 0.5 kilos is expected.

The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade said with the reference to Oleh Pendzin, the director of economic sectors development department, that in 2011, the state assistance would allow retention of tendency in increase of head of cattle and poultry and increase in meat production.

He said that in 2011, the government intends to take a number of measures aimed at further development of domestic cattle breeding, first of all milk and beef farming.

He said that the state budget already envisioned UAH2.7 billion (US$340.52 million) for those purposes, of which UAH500 million (US$63.06 million) would be channeled for partial compensation of construction and reconstruction of cattle and poultry breeding farms and also enterprises for fodder production.

As Ukrainian News earlier reported, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food Supplies expects increase in meat production of 2.4-3.4% or 0.05-0.07 million tonnes to 2.1-2.12 million tonnes.

Meat import is expected to be 270,000-275,000 tonnes in 2011.