|
Major Hurdles for Increased Goat Meat Consumption in the Philippines
October 6, 2009
The challenges associated with increased goat meat production in Philippines are:
1. Consumer Awareness
2. Producer Awareness
3. Lack of slaughter and processing plants
4. Lack of organized markets and marketing channels.
· Consumer Awareness : The dietary advantages of goat meat; why people of all the old cultures (Chinese, Mayan, African, Middle Eastern and Greek) eat this meat;
· Producer Awareness: Commercialization of technology developed in raising goats in the tropics. The use of superior Breeds of goats like Boers bucks to upgrade the native herd for increase size and faster growth rate. The importance of nutrition with emphasis on planting legumes which are easy to grow, highly digestible and high in protein.
· Marketing will plays a vital role in the growth of the goat industry in the Philippines. The availability of goat meat in the market centers in the country would be crucial. Producers should take advantage of government facilities like Animal Products Development Center (APDC) of the Bureau of Animal Industry in Matulas, Valenzuela City and benefit from government inspected slaughterhouse to process goats. Product development with APDC should be pursued in developing value added products like specialty sausages. Specialty cuts like ribs for steak and barbecue. Stew cuts or caldereta cuts have a market following and would provide for the medium and low end meat cuts.
The big Muslim population should lead producers to give proper harvesting and handling technique a priority to qualify goat meat as a Halal certified product. The Chinese community is also a big potential market with their preference for healthy food. All these will enhance marketing and profitability
The additional cost of slaughtering in a Double A slaughter house, cold chain and packaging will make goat meat prices high, direct marketing may be desirable, either on farm or direct selling.
CONCLUSION
Filipinos have a soft heart for goat’s meat in the Caldereta, and Papaitan they served during Fiestas, Christmas and during important family occasion. The producers can turn this strength around and bring goat’s meat to the dining table. From the traditional pulutan to a healthy food for the Filipino consumers. As we see advertisement on television, “Mahirap Magkasakit, Mahal and Ma Ospital”. Filipinos are getting conscious about the food they eat and goat meat being the world’s healthiest red meat can cash in on this market, healthy and organic goat’s meat.
Goat production is a great opportunity for the poor farmers in the countryside which produces 99% of the goats slaughtered in the country. How the farmers brings his goats to the market efficiently should be addressed. Goat meat standard in slaughtering and product development would be the key with value added products from goats presenting a big opportunity for producers to be profitable and sustainable.
Government would be a key player together with FGASPAPI in providing Purebred Bucks to the poor farmers in the countryside to upgrade the native herd. In upgrading increasing the size of the next generation goats of the farmers must be the priority. Hand in hand creating awareness in the importance of nutrition and choosing a suitable legume which the farmers can plant to improve digestibility and protein content of forage intake of his goats.
Creating awareness among the consumers of the health benefits of eating goat meat which the Chinese have known for centuries is vital. Commercialization of technology in goat raising suitable for farmers in the countryside is a must. The marketing channel should be structured in a way that the flow of goats should be from the producers to wholesaler to the retailers and to the consumers.
|
