The Economic and Social Plan – PESOE 2024 points to significant growth in animal production this year, driven by disease prevention and control measures, sanitary and reproductive management. Global animal production is estimated at 203,221 tons, an increase of 8% compared to 2023 (187,309 tons), distributed 5% for cattle, 4% for pigs, 6% for small ruminants and 8% for poultry.
In addition, PESOE projects an 8% growth in meat production, with an emphasis on pigs (15%) and sheep (16%). However, fresh milk production per liter is expected to fall by a significant 34% to 2,376,048 liters in 2024, compared to 3,606,831 liters in 2023.
In the fishing sector, a 4% increase in production is expected compared to 2023, totaling 508,804 tons, with 19,700 tons coming from commercial fishing, 479,000 tons from artisanal fishing and 9,700 tons from aquaculture. The government stresses the importance of this growth in ensuring the population’s food and nutritional security, with a per capita consumption target of 21.7 kilograms by the end of the five-year period.
Despite this increase in production, exports of fisheries and aquaculture products for 2024 are forecast at around 10,273 tons, representing a 25% reduction compared to 2023. The government attributes this reduction to factors such as restrictions on access to the European market, global market conditions and lower demand for licensing production units.
To reverse this trend, the government is strengthening catch control, stepping up inspections during the closed season and in strategic locations, encouraging operators to seek out new markets and diversify production, as well as improving the fish value chain and adhering to activity licensing.
It is expected that the increase in exports of aquaculture products, lobster and live crab from artisanal fishing will result in a future increase in fish exports, with an estimated collection of around US$ 60.9 million, at constant 2014 prices, as indicated in the document.
