Hyderabad: Telangana has retained its unique distinction as India’s most non-vegetarian state, with per capita meat consumption standing at nearly 24 kg per year—more than three times the national average of just over 7 kg—according to the latest data from the National Sample Survey Office and the National Meat Research Institute (NMRI).
Driven by this soaring demand, meat prices in Hyderabad have touched around Rs 1,000 per kg, significantly higher than global averages. By comparison, the average meat price is Rs 647 per kg in the UK, Rs 624 in Ireland, Rs 494 in Australia, Rs 539 in New Zealand and Rs 820 in the USA.
Highlighting these figures during a recent national workshop in Hyderabad, scientists and academicians from NMRI warned of an impending supply crisis. They noted that if Telangana’s goat and sheep sector fails to modernise in line with the poultry and broiler industry, the state could soon face severe shortages.
Issuing a veiled caution, Baswa Reddy said the removal of import duties on Australian meat by the Indian government posed a serious threat to domestic small ruminant farmers. “There is an urgent need to strengthen our local production systems and develop strategies to safeguard indigenous meat supply chains,” he said.
During the fiscal year 2022–23, Telangana reported a per capita meat availability of 23.97 kg per annum, equivalent to roughly 2 kg per person per month. In contrast, the ministry of animal husbandry’s Annual Report 2023–24 pegged the national average at 7.1 kg per annum, or just 0.6 kg per person per month—one-third of Telangana’s consumption.
