17 Jan 2021

The Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Mr Karabo Gare, says live cattle export period, which elapses in July,  is expected to give government advance towards beef market liberalisation.

Addressing Kgalagadi North farmers in Kang recently, Mr Gare said government’s aim was to liberalise beef market by de-monopolising Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) before end of July.

However, he said  government was working on supporting  recovery of the ailing BMC.

He explained that though live export benefitted farmers, the move affected job prospects, citing that jobs that would have benefited Batswana if the cattle would had been slaughtered and processed locally.

He was hopeful that by June, Botswana would have sealed beef market deal with China

The minister reiterated government commitment to establishing meat market regulator.

Mr Gare said agriculture was one of the sectors that could sustain the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic, which had  impacted heavily on government budget saying the anticipated revenue from diamonds, taxes and tourism went down.

He, therefore, challenged farmers to save the situation by being productive.

He told farmers that review of ISPAAD was under way and by end of March they would be done with the review process.

Mr Gare said the aim was to make sure that ISPAAD was sustainable and should have a return on investment.

He also said they were in the process of reviewing national agricultural policy that was last reviewed in 1991.

Responding to Kgosi Basadi Seipone of Kang concern over deteriorating condition of Phuduhudu artificial insemination farm which is now not operational , the minister said it would be revamped to be operational next financial year. Ends