Khaberni - Sheep breeders and traders said that the Ministry of Agriculture's decision to stop the export of live sheep to neighboring countries to ensure meat abundance locally in the blessed month of Ramadan is not well considered.
They indicated that the decision has been halted since November last year to prepare for the upcoming season, demanding the reopening of exports immediately after Ramadan, according to Al-Ghad.
For his part, the president of the Livestock Breeders Association, Zaal Al-Kawalit, said that the "Agriculture" stoppage of exporting live sheep to neighboring countries to ensure meat abundance in Ramadan is poorly studied, adding that the export has already been stopped since November last year in preparation for the upcoming season.
Al-Kawalit referred to a prior agreement with "Agriculture" to achieve a balance that stipulates opening the door to exports with the opening of imports from all origins, provided that it is not similar to the "local" species, and from healthy origins with the door also opened to importing refrigerated meat.
He added that about 600,000 heads are exported annually with large sizes weighing between 40 and 45 kg, which are not desired in the kingdom due to their size, explaining that the decision to stop exports will harm farmers amid annual losses they have suffered for years due to drought and rising feed prices, and we will lose Gulf markets, demanding the reopening of exports immediately after Ramadan.
For his part, sheep trader Suleiman Abu Mahfouz considered the halt of sheep exports negative and will harm traders, demanding the reopening of export doors after Ramadan, especially since imports are open from all origins, as well as the import of refrigerated meat.
Agriculture clarifies: Export has been stopped since November
Assistant Secretary-General for Animal Wealth at "Agriculture" Misbah Al-Tarawneh, said that export has actually been stopped since November last year, and the decision issued the day before yesterday confirms the previous stoppage after traders circulated news regarding opening the import door to raise prices on the consumer in the holy month, confirming that the export door will be opened immediately after Ramadan.
"Agriculture" announced the day before yesterday the halt of exporting live sheep to neighboring countries, to ensure meat abundance locally in Ramadan, explaining that this decision aims to guarantee the supply of local market needs for red meat, maintain price stability, and provide sufficient quantities of meat during Ramadan.
It referred to opening new origins for importing live animals, including sheep and calves, and relying on new slaughterhouses to import meat in various forms, from approved and healthily and veterinary sound origins.
