12 Jun 2018

 Francistown councillors have resolved to seek audience with President Mokgweetsi Masisi over a decision not to re-open the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) abattoir in Francistown.
This follows a letter written to the council by Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Mr Patrick Ralotsia in which he outlined a number of reasons why the plant could not be re-opened.
The mayor of Francistown, Ms Sylvia Muzila confirmed the decision to meet the President in an interview.
“I have already written to the minister himself about the council resolution to see the President. I am now asking for an appointment with the Office of the President to give us a date to see the President,” she said.
Mayor Muzila said the minister had changed his earlier promise that he would consider re-opening the plant if farmers in the region supplied the 800 weekly cattle quota which the abattoir required to be effectively operational.
“We met all his requirements and farmers even promised to supply more than the 800 per week quota that was presented to us by the minister during a special full council meeting early this year,” she said.
In her welcoming remarks during the recent full council meeting, Ms Muzila raised hopes that the abattoir would be re-opened after consultations with cattle farmers who promised to supply the 800 per week quota.
“I wish to draw your attention to the fact that the Francistown BMC plant has not been operating efficiently due to low throughput,” reads the letter from Mr Ralotsia to the council meeting.
Minister Ralotsia explained in the letter that the abattoir had the capacity to slaughter 40 200 cattle per annum, and that the number of cattle slaughtered ranged from 10 000 to 57 000.
He said it was a clear indication that it was not economically viable to operate the abattoir and that government decided to mothball the Francistown abattoir.
He explained that following the closure of the abattoir, BMC transferred its staff to its two operations in Maun and Lobatse. Similarly, the letter noted that the Department of Veterinary Services was in the process of transferring its staff from Francistown to other parts of the country, as it was no longer economical to keep them in Francistown with no slaughter taking place.
The minister also thanked the council for supplying data on the slaughter of animals, but noted that the Francistown abattoir required 400 animals per day. He said the 1 050 animals which the council promised would only be enough for about three weeks.
Minister Ralotsia explained that farmers in the northern region had pledged to supply a minimum of 800 cattle per week, but had not met their obligation.
“Additionally, the Francistown abattoir has over time been slaughtering cattle with an average cold carcass mass (CDM) of less than 200 kilogrammes. The cut sizes are also variable due to different carcasses in terms of weight and low yield,” reads the letter.
He explained that the BMC Francistown had made losses from 2010 to 2015, and that they were cushioned by the Lobatse plant, thereby impacting negatively on the financial position of the Lobatse abattoir.
“Based on the foregoing, the opening of the Francistown abattoir to slaughter for the EU market is not feasible as this will lead to an increase in the cost of production. The cattle pledges as per your communiqué are from feedlotters and can be easily transferred to Lobatse for slaughter.
BMC will soon engage farmers in and around the Francistown catchment area to buy cattle for slaughter in Lobatse for the EU market and other markets. However, there is in the meantime dispensation to slaughter cattle from the red zone in Francistown BMC plant,” concludes the letter.  ENDS