Paraguay's sheep sector has moved beyond being a niche promise to establish itself as a high-yield business with international reach. In an interview with the Economía a 1000 program, Dr. Mustafá Yambay, a recognized producer in the sector, analyzed the current landscape of sheep farming in the country and highlighted the qualitative leap made by local livestock over the past 15 years.
"A decade or fifteen years ago, Paraguayan producers would visit exhibitions in neighboring countries and come back amazed, dreaming of one day reaching that level," Yambay recalled. "Today, the reality is radically different: thanks to strong private investment and the formalization driven by fairs and exhibitions, Paraguay has not only matched regional standards but has become a net exporter of high-quality sheep genetics," he added.
Yambay highlighted the recent opening of four new international markets, which together represent a universe of more than 70 million potential consumers, putting "enormous pressure" on local supply. As a milestone, he mentioned the shipment of a container with 12,000 kilograms of lamb meat, but warned that the pace needs to be urgently accelerated.
"The industry is urgently asking for raw material so it can secure stable supply contracts. The big job now is to disseminate this excellent genetics throughout the countryside to build a large commercial flock," Yambay stated. He acknowledged that this volume shortage also impacts the domestic market, limiting producers' ability to sign annual delivery contracts.
The shipment of Paraguayan lamb meat to the United Arab Emirates represents a milestone for national sheep production and ushers in a new phase for a sector that spent years working to conquer international markets.