19 Oct 2026

Tholo Holdings has been commended for recognising the poultry industry as a sector worthy of investment, meaningful dialogue and national importance. 

When officially opening the 7^th edition of Tholo Holdings Poultry Expo in Gabane on Friday, Assistant Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship Mr Baratiwa Mathoothe said the expo brought together ideas, capital, technology, markets and people whose collective efforts could help shape the future of the poultry business.

“It is worthy to note that poultry is one of the sectors that can be used as a catalyst for economic growth and job creation,” he said.

Mr Mathoothe further said that economic diversification required investment in productive capacity, growth of competitive businesses, the development of skills and the creation of industries capable of generating lasting value.

The assistant minister added that the ambition should therefore be to develop a poultry industry that did not merely exist but one that grew, innovated, attracted investment and created opportunities for Batswana. 

He encouraged companies established in the poultry value chain to share technical skills and knowledge, mentor smaller businesses, develop reliable supplier relationships and open up commercial opportunities where feasible.

Mr Mathoothe said the future of the poultry sector must also be considered in the context of food security and the resilience of supply chains because a strong domestic industry could contribute to a more reliable supply of poultry products and create opportunities for local producers and businesses. 

“Developing a competitive poultry industry is a shared responsibility. Government and the private sector each have a role to play, and progress will depend on how the two complement one another”.

The assistant minister further said government’s role included creating an enabling business environment, supporting economic diversification, facilitating enterprise development and ensuring that appropriate regulatory frameworks were in place. 

Managing director of Tholo Holdings, Mr Werner Faber said the poultry industry was one sector that had been neglected for a long time even though it fed many households in Botswana.

Mr Faber said Tholo Holdings decided to create an expo where local famers could come together and learn from one another to ultimately invest in the poultry sector.

He said their vision was to see the sector grow with many people benefiting from it and earning a better living.

The managing director said the local farmers should know that Tholo Holdings was there for them as they produced different kinds of feeds for the market and would soon produce ostrich feeds, with ostrich farming being another sector that he said government wants to develop.

Head of Agriculture Economist and sector advisor at First National Bank Botswana, Ms Bojosi Ncube said the bank viewed agriculture as a strategic pillar of the economy and therefore had faith in the potential of the poultry sector.

She observed that in 2022, the sector was valued at P1.7 billion and was continuing to grow and impact the lives of many especially through the thousands of jobs that it has created across the value chain.

She further said the commitment of government to scale the industry was commendable, particularly because the poultry industry remained one sector which could be used to reduce imports. 

Member of Parliament for Gabane/Mmankgodi, Mr Kagiso Mmusi commended Tholo Holdings for its continued support to local farmers and for creating employment opportunities for residents of Gabane and nearby areas.

Mr Mmusi said the poultry business had endless possibilities because of its many value chains. 

 

Earlier in his welcome remarks, operations manager at Tholo Holdings, Mr Kabelo Kaparang shared sentiments that the poultry sector had indeed been neglected for some time and that platforms such as the expo they hosted were intended to bring focus onto the sector. ENDS