SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, July 13 (EUROPE PRESS) –
The consumption of local meat in Tenerife has reached 2,069,753 kilos in the first semester, which is 16,231 kilos more than in the first half of 2021 (2,053,522 kilos). In fact, consumption has increased by 10.08 percent in the last three years, going from 3,881,403 kilos in 2019 to 4,272,702 in 2021.
The island councilor for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Javier Parilla, pointed out that it is a moderate increase and, as he said, “that is the line in which we have come and we want to continue working.” The insular official also stressed that this increase responds to the increase in the country’s demand for meat, as well as the increase in business confidence.
“Although local production cannot compete in price with imported meat, the value of fresh meat from Tenerife is being noticed by the final consumer. The world events of the last two years have caused the local product to be appreciated more, both for its freshness and continuity and for its quality”, maintains Javier Parrilla.
The island councilor also stressed that this increase in meat consumption does not respond, in any case, to an increase in slaughter at the Tenerife Island Slaughterhouse (MIT). “In fact, the results of the first half reveal that, for the moment, the increase in the price of cereals has not had a significant impact on the number of slaughters,” he said.
For her part, the manager of MIT, Cristina Sierra, explained that, in March, a production peak was detected as a result of the transporters’ strike because “as imports were affected, the island’s large meat industries demanded more local product “.
Regarding production, Parrilla pointed out that the consumption of bovine, caprine and ovine meat has increased, but expressed his concern about the fall in the consumption of rabbit meat, as well as the decrease, by 9 percent , of the production of pork meat, which breaks with the upward trend registered in the last two years.
The councilor has also highlighted the creation of the Carnes Frescas de Tenerife brand, which has contributed to giving confidence and security to the sector, and whose objective is to improve the identification and quality of local fresh meat products, generate awareness of the value of kilometer zero products and boost the local economy.
In the same way, he highlighted the various promotional campaigns for the consumption of meat in the country launched by the Island Corporation in the last year and a half, and anticipates that work will continue along the same lines.
In terms of aid, Parrilla wanted to recall that the Cabildo will invest 2.1 million euros this year in direct aid for the Tenerife livestock sector, and stresses that last April the urgent processing of four of these aids was approved, worth 1.68 million euros.
“The war in Ukraine and the crisis derived from covid have multiplied the price of feed and electricity, that is why from the Cabildo we have not only increased aid, but also streamlined its processing, because what it is about is that farmers and ranchers have the aid as soon as possible”, he concluded.
