November 22, 2004

Beef Industry Outlook Bleak in Botswana

Prospects for Botswana's beef export industry are said to be bleak due to the ever-increasing costs of compliance with export conditions and marketing beef to distant markets.

According to Botswana Meat Commission's Chief Executive Officer, Motshudi Raborokgwe, the strength of the beef industry will be determined by using the competitive advantage Botswana has over its regional counterparts, as well as being innovative in marketing local beef as a free range product.

However, he said that the local market is making progress due to increases in population, income and therefore higher consumption rates.

This was a good sign as the internal market is a basis for the international market. The country boasts of a national herd valued at over P2 billion, and possess conducive environmental factors such as semi-arid and vast areas of pasture.

He lamented, however, the inability of Botswana to reach its beef export quota of 18,916 tons to the EU as this was an opportune time to take advantage of the increased world demand for beef. In 2003, only 8,500 tons of beef was exported to the EU.

This is attributed to the inefficient communal management system and range degradation caused by poor settlement policies.

One major factor that is said to be contributing to the decline of the industry is the cost of controlling foot and mouth disease.