Vice-Chancellor Sindh Agriculture University (SAU) Dr Fateh Muhammad Marri said that due to floods and COVID-19, the agriculture and economic conditions of Sindh were negatively affected but cattle continued to be a source of livelihood for the people in difficult times. There is scope as a large markets for halal foods in the world, hence the need to focus on modern technology and marketing of animal products to improve export, shelf life and quality of halal meat.
He was addressing during the thesis presentation ceremony of PhD research by Tariq Ahmed Khokhar, a scholar of Animal Product Technologies, Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam, under the title “Effect of Low Temperature Preservation and Post-Thawing on Chemical Attributes of Buffen, Chevon and Chicken Meat”.
Dr Fateh Marri said that meat, milk, leather and Halal Foods are in huge demand in the world, especially in Muslim countries; but Halal Foods of the country are not exportable due to various reasons and concerns. He said that if there are any concerns regarding the quality of Pakistan’s halal products in the international market, including nutrition, then the experts have to remove such concerns through their research.
He said that the research done by Scholar Tariq Khokhar will be beneficial in the export of halal meat and it will help in the export and value chain of halal products of Pakistan.
Scholar Tariq Ahmed Khokhar has stated in his research that 3.1% of the total exports of the country is included in the livestock sector, while 8 million families are economically dependent on this sector, due to lack of proper system and farmers and meat businesses.
He said that due to the lack of knowledge about the shelf life of meat to the people concerned with meat business, the nutritional value of the meat deteriorates and traditional methods of meat preservation are being used, which also affects its shelf life. “This research will be beneficial for maintaining meat quality and nutrition.” he added. On this occasion, PhD scholar Mr Khokhar handed over the thesis book of his research to Vice-Chancellor
On the occasion Dean Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences Dr Syed Ghiyasuddin Shah Rashidi, Director of Advanced Studies Dr Abdul Mubeen Lodhi, Faculty Coordinator and Supervisor Syed Atta Hussain Shah, Dr Munir Ahmad Jamali, Dr Asghar Ali Kamboh, Dr Saeed Soomro and others were also present.
