14 Nov 2017

Assistant Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security has admitted that Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) has cash-flow problem, which are necessitated by both internal (old plant) and external (low throughput) deficiencies of the beef value chain.

Answering a question in Parliament on Monday from MP for Ghanzi North Mr Noah Salakae, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse said government’s notable interventions included the recent national consultations of the future on BMC and commissioning of the on-going study on liberalisation of the beef export market.

“A final determination on the referred recommendations is yet to be decided by Cabinet,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Autlwetse said BMC had set a turnaround standard to pay cattle-producers within 14 days after slaughter (for direct slaughter suppliers) or delivery (for feedlot bound cattle).

Currently, Francistown pays within the set standard of 14 days while Maun and Lobatse were failing to comply due to cash flow problems.

He however said there were still complaints from farmers whose payments had been delayed by BMC. 

The strategies put in place to address the situation, he said included the following; BMC has acquired bank facilities to bridge the cash flow; government was in the process of implementing measles control strategy; fast track registration of holdings for EU traceability compliance and  as well as strengthen Foot and Mouth Disease surveillance and control measures.

MP Salakae had asked the minister to inform Parliament whether  BMC still has cash-flow problems and what measures have been put in place to address the situation. 

He also wanted to know how long it took BMC  to pay farmers and whether there were still complaints from farmers with respect to late payments and if so what strategies have been put in place to address the situation. BOPA