As part of efforts aimed at ensuring and maintaining a hygienic and conducive environment within abattoirs and wholesomeness in the sales of red meat in the state, Lagos State government has trained no fewer than 400 butchers and live cattle dealers drawn from various abattoirs and slaughter slabs in the state on current trends in abattoir management.
Speaking at the closing and presentation of certificate to the participants held at the weekend in Lagos, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Oluwatoyin Suarau said the 3-day training programme which is centered on the standard operating procedures in abattoir was organized by the state’s Ministry of Agriculture as part of the ongoing reformation in the red meat Value Chain in the state.
He noted that there is need for attitudinal change by stakeholders and concessionaires in the red-meat-value chain business especially in the areas of operational procedures and abattoir management stressing that they are major determinant in the wholesomeness of the meat and meat product produce from various abattoirs.
Suarau added that the state government in addressing these challenges sponsored some butchers, live cattle dealers and other stakeholders in the red meat value chain business on a study tour of Kenya and Botswana Red Meat Industry.
“The aim of the tour then was to expose the butchers to the international standard of operation in the industry towards improving the hygiene status in all the approved abattoirs and slaughter slabs in the State and to ensure wholesomeness in the meat that is locally consume”, Suarau said.
The Commissioner pointed out that the Kenya-Botswana declaration of 2014 resulted in an agreement between the State Government and the stakeholders that every stage of the meat value chain should be upgraded to encourage export of meat and meat products.