BMC hopes to reach target this year
08 Mar 2023
Slaughtering of 10 000 Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) cattle from Zone 6b is likely to boost the struggling BMC Maun plant to reach this year’s set target of 18 000 beasts.
Last year, they managed to slaughter 9 120 animals against the 15 000 target translated to 60 per cent performance.
In an interview, the Maun plant manager, Mr Ishmael Ramorula who is optimistic about the exercise, said the move to transport and slaughter cattle at Maun abattoir, followed government’s decision to depopulate the affected areas, compensate farmers for the killing of their cattle and also to maintain the area’s green zone status.
Mr Ramorula revealed that the decision was a welcome development as the plant had been struggling to meet the target due to inadequate supply of animals from farmers. He also pointed out that the first consignment arrived on Friday last week and they had slaughtered over 500 animals to date, adding that they received animals on a daily basis.
“We are hopeful that the whole consignment from Zone 6b will boost us to achieve our set target.
We expected to receive and slaughter 120 animals a day as per our plant slaughtering capacity, but the first consignment comprised 116 and we managed to kill them all the day they arrived,” he added.
Mr Ramorula further noted that they expected to finish the slaughtering process of the estimated 10 000 animals in three months, appreciating that the animals were transported directly to the plant, hence they accelerated their efforts to slaughter on time.
Maun abattoir opened in January 2023 and the slaughtering process was slow, but the abattoir increased its capacity by getting animals from the green zone.
Concerning the market for the product, he disclosed that the major market was cannery at Lobatse plant, noting that they had a contract with government to process beef stew.
He was optimistic that the product would fulfill the contract, adding that they would also explore other existing domestic markets in Maun, greater Gaborone and even beyond borders. ENDS
Source : BOPA
Author : Esther Mmolai
Location : MAUN
Event : INTERVIEW
Date : 08 Mar 2023