28 Jul 2015

Jago Beef Abattoir in Palapye has been commended for enforcing the livestock and Meat Industries Act (LMIA).

Speaking at the opening of a seven months old Jago Beef Abattoir, the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Patrick Ralotsia, said it was disheartening to learn that opportunities such as this one were not well utilised by entrepreneurs.

Minister Ralotsia said it was gratifying to see a development such as this one in full operation and run by Batswana. He noted, however, that butchery operators had to understand that slaughter slabs were inadequate and the hygiene that should go with this type of operation was of the highest standards.

Minister Ralotsia said he wished that more of these facilities would be built country wide and dependence on slaughter slabs and slaughtering under trees would eventually be phased out.

Mr Ralotsia said abattoirs of this kind showed great development and the meat industry in particular, not only in supplying good quality meat to the communities but also to be able to meet the set standards for export market.

He said this abattoir would set an example to other countries that it was possible for a country like Botswana to put up similar abattoirs that were of international standards.

He suggested that the management of the abattoir should look beyond the primary production of fresh meat and consider producing value added meat products.

He said the abattoir was well placed in the great catchment area of good cattle and also on the A1 highway, which would enable them to move their products in all directions on a good road, in good time.

Mr Ralotsia said his ministry would support their efforts in striving to expand and excel in the meat sector as they were looking at having competitive advantage and focusing their energy on beef. He said they need to take a holistic view to developing and exploring opportunities in the sector for the benefit of the farmers, the country and other stakeholders.

He encouraged business people and the community as a whole to take advantage and use the facility as it is crucial to eat good quality meat. He said slaughter records of jago shows that out of the 3550 cattle slaughtered since its operation and only 212 which is 6 per cent were tested positive to measles, whereas at BMC it stands at 13 per cent.

He emphasised on relying and consuming tested meat which could reduce parasite infection and eventually eradicate it. He urged them to take good care of the facilities so that they can give it a long and productive life.

He said since Botswana is well known as a beef country they need to develop expertise in all areas of meat processing, handling and related arts and science, which will also benefit the abattoir and the nation as a whole.

He said there is a need for them to establish and implement a food safety system in their operations with appropriate Standard Operation Procedures (SOP) as required by some of the markets, saying where there is a will there is a way, noting that he is confident that they can achieve a lot. Ends