Butchers in Edo on Tuesday appealed to the State Government to provide them with modern abattoirs, preservation facilities and vehicles to transport meats.
The Chairman of the State’s Butchers Association, Mr. Ikponmwosa Orhue, made this appeal in an interview with newsmen in Benin.
Orhue also appealed for soft loan for members, noting that when provided, the facilities will enhance their businesses as well as ensure that meat consume are of good hygienic condition.
The chairman, who bemoaned the present condition of abattoirs in the state, said a modern one have become imperative in order to avoid epidemic in the state.
According to him, the state of abattoirs, especially the government-owned, are all in a mess, aside the issue of water, the sanitary condition of the abattoirs have become something one is not proud to discuss.
“Our fear is that this poses a serious health danger to the people of the state, who consume meat.
“There is the need for the government, especially the incoming one, to address this challenge by building modern abattoirs that will be equipped with the modern facilities.
“As for the preservation facility, it has become necessary for us to secure a place to preserve unsold meat to retain its freshness.
“We are also in serious need of vehicles to transport meat from one location or market to the other, rather than the present system where meat is exposed to unhygienic condition,” he said.
Orhue said the present economy situation, especially as it regards the issue of foreign exchange, was affecting their business.
“The amount we spend in buying two trailer loads of cows before is what we now spend in buying one trailer as a result of the increase in exchange rate.
“According to him, members of the association now buy cows from Northern Cameroon as Nigeria no longer have much cows as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East.
“This is why we are appealing to the government to assist us with soft loan to increase and support our businesses,” he stressed.
Comments
Post a Comment