Angolan minister vows to reverse dependence on meat imports

Angolan Minister of Agriculture Afonso Pedro Canga has vowed to reverse the country's dependence on meat imports by increasing the quality and quantities of local production as meat consumption was increasing on daily basis in the African country.

During a meeting with farmers at Lubango in the southern Huila province on Saturday, Afonso Pedro said currently the government spent 500 million U.S. dollars a year to import some 100,000 tons of meat to patch up the deficiency of domestic production, a situation that must be reversed.

The minister made the pledge on the eve of the 11th anniversary of the creation of the Cooperative of Southern Cattle Breeders of Angola, which had held several cattle auctions to promote local meat products.

He said currently the government sold foreign currency to importers to ensure meat products reach Angolan families, and measures must be taken to increase domestic production of quality meats to meet the demand of the 22.5 million population.

The Angolan government attached importance to the development of farming and animal husbandry industry to diversify its oil- dependent economy and President Jose Eduardo dos Santos called for measures to shore up the farming industry in the recently concluded fourth joint meeting of the Economic Commissions of the Council of Ministers in Luanda.