11 Mar 2019

Despite presenting multiple business opportunities that one could tap into, diversify and grow the livestock industry, cattle rearing is the only practice that appears to be appealing to an ordinary Motswana, says Botswana Meat Commission, head of livestock procurement, Mr Mooketsi Madome.

Mr Madome was presenting at an economic empowerment workshop for public officers in Shoshong constituency organised by MP Dikgang Makgalemele at Shoshong recently.

He said despite environmental challenges, livestock production was one of the few industries that would continue to sustain the local communities.

“We are honoured by God to engage in cattle production, beef production is more of a tradition and art,” he said.

However Mr Madome appealed to the local communities to work on diversifying the livestock industry and tap into other opportunities presented by the sector.

Even though the sector had potential of growing and diversifying the economy, Mr Madome was concerned by the decline in cattle numbers.

According to the 2017 statistics, the cattle population was estimated at 1.7 million, a figure that he said was indicating continuous decline as compared to previous years.

There was a time when the numbers of cattle stood at 3 million, he said.

He said failure to tap into other business opportunities in the cattle value chain industry could be attributed to the declining cattle population.

“Some people have since abandoned the sector to venture into other modern business opportunities deemed to be more viable,” he said.

Mr Madome said cattle products, more especially beef, took 80 per cent of  agriculture exports, whereas the agricultural sector only contributed a mere three per cent of the country’s economy.

He urged public officers in the Shoshong constituency to take advantage of the business potentials presented by the cattle industry.

“There are varied business opportunities that lie untapped in the cattle industry ranging from production services and marketing. It is not all about rearing cattle, look at other services required to drive the industry. Start now and master the game, rather than wait for the day you will be retiring from public sector,” he said.

Mr Madome urged public officers to be cautious and engage in alternative activities of generating revenue rather than wholly depending on monthly salaries.

Mr Madome said Botswana’s beef was renowned for exceptional taste and quality and therefore presented multiple opportunities and a lucrative market.

He said 80 per cent of the cattle was in communal areas and only 20 per cent in ranches.

He said business opportunities like stud breeding, fodder production, feed supply were among the viable activities to consider.

He said climate conditions resulting in weather changes affected the cattle industry and therefore force farmers to supplement their animal feeds.

He regretted that a larger portion of cattle feed was supplied by farmers from neighbouring countries.

Mr Madome added slaughter slabs, abattoirs, cattle bye-products such as hides and skins were some of the business opportunities to consider.  

He said farmers were also striving to improve their record keeping, which he said presented an opportunity for investment in the use of information technology as farmers needed software to improve their record keeping. ENDS