The Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) has reignited interest in regaining two export markets, Mozambique and Angola. The state-owned company lost the two markets some two years ago but now wants to start exporting beef to those countries again.
The Angolan and Mozambique markets were initially secured for Ngamiland beef but was lost due to an inconsistent supply of beef from the region.
Maun BMC Plant Manager Ishmael Ramorula stated that they recently hired a Sales and Distribution Manager Dr Mbaakanyi Mazwiduma to spearhead the process of regaining the two lost markets to entice more farmers to supply the plant.
“We have since recruited a sales and Distribution manager and the major focus is on establishing new markets especially export markets like DRC, Angola, and Mozambique. As you know we lost markets, especially Mozambique and Angola, and the new sales and distribution manager is working on resuscitation of these lost markets. Only DRC is still on board though it has scaled down too,” he said.
He said retaining the lost markets will enable them to be consistent in paying farmers after supplying the plant with cattle for slaughter. Ramorula highlighted that despite concerns over measles in the region from farmers, they are also monitoring the situation.
The Maun Plant Boss stated that it is no secret that measles poses a great threat to the farming community adding that in some instances it could lower cattle prices.
He added that cattle supply to the plant is always inconsistent throughout the year.
“In February government instructed us to slaughter Zone 6B cattle as part of the eradication plan and the slaughter of those cattle started in March. In April we had to give farmers in our region an opportunity to slaughter their cattle and in that month we slaughtered over 1700 cattle while in May we slaughtered Zone 6B cattle and then in June we had low supply from Zone 6B,” stated Ramorula.
Ramorula also said usually during August, September, and December the supply goes down. On the other hand, Ngamiland farmers recently indicated that they were facing an unprecedented task of keeping up with farming amid the measles outbreak, drought, and recent sudden wildfires.
Ngamiland Farmers Association Chairman Frank Mafela said despite the government’s recent intervention to assist farmers with feed subsidies and exclusive extension for Ngamiland farmers to export live cattle, challenges persist.
This year during his visit to the Maun BMC Plant, The Minister of Agriculture Fidelis Molao said Ngamiland farmers had lost more than 2000 cattle due to infestation of Bont tick, which was first detected in the Okavango sub-district before it spread throughout the region.
Recently, North West District Council Chairman Itumeleng Kelebetseng told a full council that a total of 13268 cattle were slaughtered in the export abattoirs (BMC, Ngami, Batawana) between April and June. Out of these, a total of 4328 animals were from zone 6B.
