10 Jul 2014

Chief executive officer of Botswana Meat Commission (BMC), Dr Akolang Tombale, says the commission intends to increase the quantity of meat it exports to the European Union (EU) markets.

When addressing councillors in Kgalagadi District during a full council meeting on July 8, Dr Tombale said their aim was to export 15 000 tons of beef to Europe this year. He warned that this would result in a decline in beef exports to other markets.

He explained that BMC made higher profits from exports to EU than to any other markets. “We make more money from the EU market than any other market and its only fitting that we meet all their requirements,” he said.

He challenged farmers to make sure that the cattle they sell to the BMC are fit and healthy so that the Commission can satisfy the EU market, which insists on hygiene and cattle traceability.

He further said it’s difficult to control the spread of diseases because 90 percent of available land is unfenced and used for communal grazing.

However, he urged farmers to control the spread of measles because it is one of the common diseases that lead to beef from Botswana being downgraded at international markets, which negatively impacts BMC revenue.

He also expressed concern about the high number of cattle with multiple bolas and missing permits, saying it makes BMC post negative results.

When responding to questions from some councillors on the criteria used by BMC to buy cattle, Dr Tombale explained that the Commission uses the direct purchase scheme.

“Through this scheme we reach out to farmers and buy their cattle directly. Farmers can also deliver their cattle at various BMC abattoirs,” he said.

However, Dr Tombale told farmers that their biggest problem is cash flow.

He said BMC incurred huge losses in 2009 and 2012 as they had to transport their meat back to Botswana from the EU at very high cost.  Meanwhile, Dr Tombale urged Batswana to turn Lobatse into an EU facility by supplying BMC with fresh, top quality cattle. ENDS