10 Dec 2025

Botswana is a net exporter of beef and produces more than is required for domestic consumption

The Acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Edwin Dikoloti told Parliament on Tuesday that domestic beef consumption over the past three years amounted to 27 156.4 tonnes (135 773 cattle) in 2022, 32 258.6 tonnes (161 293 cattle) in 2023 and 39 577 tonnes (197 885 cattle) in 2024.

He said the value of domestically consumed beef was P768.9 million in 2022, P806.5 million in 2023 and P989.4 million in 2024 valued at P5 000 per animal.

Dr Dikoloti said the figures provided were for beef from cattle slaughtered in established abattoirs, which were certified for human consumption.

He said cattle theft was a huge problem and that a lot of cattle were killed illegally in the bush and the meat was sold through informal market.

Such meat is not for for human consumption as it is not inspected and not processed under hygienic conditions, Dr Dikoloti said.

He was responding to a question from Kanye West MP, Mr Victor Phologolo who asked the minister to brief the House on the estimated demand for beef in Botswana market in terms of the number of cattle, quantity of meat and value in the last three years.

Mr Phologolo also wanted to know whether all meat sold in the domestic market came from established abattoirs and had been certified fit for human consumption. ENDS