15 Jun 2025

Government is in the process of implementing the Meat Industry Regulatory Authority (MIRA), a body overseeing the livestock and meat industry in Botswana.

This was revealed by the Assistant Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Edwin Dikoloti at Mookane Farmer’s Day on Saturday. He said the MIRA board was already established and recruitment of the chief executive officer was at an advanced stage. In its implementation, Dr Dikoloti highlighted that the MIRA would consider and advocate for the needs of small holder farmers who in the past had not fully benefited from their produce.

“The regulatory body will also traverse the world in an effort to secure market for trade with our livestock commodities,” he said.

MIRA is also said to be responsible for, among others, ensuring quality assurance in livestock and meat production, imposing levies and promoting fair competition within the industry. On another issue, Dr Dikoloti talked about the ministry finalising the review of its programmes, adding that revised programmes would seek to build an eco-system that would transform Agriculture into an inclusive, competitive, sustainable and transformative sector. Key priorities to all these, he said was job creation, through the development of the agro processing industries.

Still at Mookane Farmer’s Day, Dr Dikoloti officially launched a multiple ovulation and embryo transfer facility, a welcome development in the livestock sub-sector which he said would assist farmers improve breed quality in the country.

For his part, Assistant Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Mr Baratiwa Mathoothe said as Batswana celebrated and applauded the progress of the agricultural sector, there was a need to reflect on challenges that threatened not only productivity, food systems and rural communities, but the overall health of the economy. In line with Mookane Farmer’s Day theme: The Multiple-dimensional Effect of Gender-Based violence on the Overall Health of the Economy, Mr Mathoothe said for the country to build a prosperous, resilient and equitable agricultural economy, there was need to confront GBV holistically and use multi-sectoral approach.

This year’s event, held at Rankgaphane cattlepost in the periphery of Mookane, marked the 10^th anniversary of Mookane Farmer’s Day, and demonstrated sustainable approaches to Agriculture such as nature-inclusive, conservation, low external input and climate-smart Agriculture. The event provided access to training, live demonstrations, youth engagement, innovation showcasing, partnership opportunities, and market access. ENDS