Foot-and-mouth disease reduces beef stock in Maputo

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Foot-and-mouth disease reduces beef stock in Maputo

10:28 CAT | 26 Aug 2020

Photo: O País

The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Maputo, city and province, is already affecting the supply of meat, especially beef, in the country’s capital, with retailers complaining about shortages.

A week after the movement of animals such as oxen, goats and pigs was restricted in the southern region of the country, a shortage of beef is already beginning to be felt in some of the city’s markets.

Meat sellers in Xipamanine market interviewed by ‘O País’ say they are not sure about the future of the offer price, because of the lack of stock.

“I only have one spare head [of cattle]. So, next week, I may have problems, because I will not have any meat to sell – and the abattoirs are closed,” one saleswoman said.

“I don’t know what the main reason is. They talk about disease and say they are vaccinating cattle, but this is affecting us a lot,” another vendor revealed.

It is not only Xipamanine that is affected. Vendors in Maputo central market say they have meat in stock, but that it cannot last for long.

“We have good stock levels, which should last about three weeks,” the head of one of the butchers told ‘O País’.

Despite the fact that there is already a shortage of meat in the markets, consumers say that the prices are still affordable, and hope that will continue in the near future.

“There has been no change in prices, yet. That’s good. We hope it will continue,” one shopper said, adding that he had heard about the outbreak and hoped that “the situation will be resolved”.

Magude district has been the epicentre of the disease so far, with four animals identified. Authorities say it will take at least 21 days to control the outbreak.

Source: O País