(MENAFN- Brazil-Arab News Agency (ANBA)) São Paulo – The Ceará Secretariat of Economic Development (SDE ), in partnership with local institutions, is expected to complete in the coming days a feasibility study to structure the production of sheep and goat meat for the halal market, which follows Islamic production standards. According to Silvio Carlos Ribeiro, the SDE's Executive Secretary of Agribusiness, the state aims to become an export hub for this market, which is expected to bring development and generate jobs in the Ceará hinterland regions.

Data provided by the SDE to ANBA show that Ceará's herd of goats and sheep reached 3.8 million heads last year, with an average growth of 1.56% over the past seven years. There are about 2.6 million sheep, up 3% in 2024 compared to 2023, and approximately 1.1 million goats, down 1.2% in 2024 compared to the previous year. Brazil's total herd last year was 35.2 million heads, with the Northeast, the main producing region, accounting for 28.9 million heads.

Ribeiro: Investment in the sector could generate jobs and development in the state

According to Ribeiro, there is a“disconnect” in the Brazilian production chain. At times, there is an oversupply of goat and sheep meat. At other times, demand exceeds supply, and even the local market is not fully served.

The idea of creating a production center for halal goat and sheep meat arose from discussions and the interest of companies in operating in this sector. Among them, Ribeiro cites FAMBRAS Halal Certifier, which certifies companies producing according to Islamic rules, and Vicunha, a Brazilian textile company.

The study is being conducted by the Ceará Center for Technological Education (Centec) with funding provided by the SDE. Consultants, universities, and the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) are also participating in the research. The survey considers all stages of the halal goat and sheep meat production chain: animal raising, producer training, logistics, sanitary control, economic feasibility, pricing, potential markets, and slaughterhouse infrastructure are some of the aspects evaluated in the study.

“When you have a consumer market that drives this demand, the [production] market will structure itself. The idea is to set up a sheep and goat slaughterhouse capable of processing a thousand animals per day. To reach that volume and have standardized, high-quality animals, you need a herd much larger than that. I need to implement strong production best practices, from raising the animals, and I need to engage not only with the meat producers but also with the animal breeders, the industry, and the consumer market,” Ribeiro says.

Once the study is completed and economic feasibility is confirmed, a memorandum of understanding is expected to be signed between the state of Ceará and the institutions involved in the project. Subsequently, companies wishing to invest in this production chain will be able to set up the infrastructure and invest in production. The SDE expects that the first slaughters will take place within a year and a half.

Ceará aims to create jobs

Ribeiro said Ceará has the logistical capacity for distribution, especially through the Port of Pecém in São Gonçalo do Amarante, about 50 kilometers from Fortaleza, the state capital. Part of the production infrastructure could be installed in the Pecém Export Processing Zone (ZPE), which offers tax exemptions to companies operating there. The other part of the production chain will come from the breeders, especially from the Sertão dos Inhamuns, Sertão Central, and Sertão dos Crateús regions in the state's interior.

“We want to make the activity profitable and financially attractive, and in doing so, create many more jobs in rural areas. These are regions where sheep and goat farming is predominant, and we believe it can be expanded, but it'll only grow if there's a market,” Ribeiro said. In addition to animals for slaughter, he noted that the study indicated the possibility of raising goats and sheep to be exported live to Islamic countries. He also said that taking sheep and goat meat to the international market may require creating a brand as part of a promotion process abroad, similar to what is already done with chicken and beef.

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Translated by Guilherme Miranda

Luiz Gonzaga Pinto de Queiroz/EmbrapaSupplied/SDE

The post Brazil's Ceará invests in halal goat, sheep meat appeared first on ANBA News Agency.

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