06 Mar 2017

A study on the feasibility of liberalising the Botswana beef export market is expected to be complete in September.
 The Assistant Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse explained in Parliament on Friday, that the findings of the study would inform government decision on whether or not the monopoly on the export of beef, beef products and live cattle should or should not be removed.
“The study, which is being done through private consultancy, is born out of recommendations of a 2013 sector Pitso/Conference convened by a majority of stakeholders in Botswana,” he said.
Mr Autlwetse said ending the monopoly of Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) must go through a legal review and was not a decision to be made by the minister alone.
However, he pointed that the minister could sanction, on application, any private business to export beef, if they meet national regulatory standards.
The Specially Elected MP, Mr Mephato Reatile had asked the assistant minister to explain when the ministry was intending to abolish monopoly by the BMC and allow other players in the beef sector to compete in the international market.
ENDS