"Meat export is booming. We exported Rs 17,400 crore worth of meat last fiscal. This year, we expect exports to grow by 5 per cent as there is good demand," Hussain told PTI on the sidelines of a seminar jointly organised by CII alongwith National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management.
India exports unprocessed meat, mostly buffalo meat. "The quality of meat has improved over a period as our export-oriented abattoirs are much better now," he said.
Highlighting export opportunities, Hussain said exports could grow several times with the opening of Chinese market.
"In fact, the agreement has already been signed with China but protocols are not yet be finalised. If the Chinese market opens, our meat exports can be several times higher," he said.
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On providing safe food to consumers, he said: "India is a vast country with a huge population. People still eat at places that are unhygienic. The challenge before us is to address this situation."
Lack of infrastructure facilities to maintain quality systems, especially in unorganised sector, is the major hurdle in the way of achieving desired standards of food safety in the country, he added.