Botswana to liberalise beef exports, says minister
BOTSWANA - Botswana will open up its beef industry to allow farmers to export their meat directly, the minister of agricultural development and food security told parliament late on Thursday.
16 March 2020
1 minute read
The state-owned Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) is currently the sole entity licensed to export beef, with farmers complaining they are forced to sell to the loss-making organisation for low prices and that payment often comes late.
Minister Edwin Dikoloti said in parliament that a meat industry regulatory authority will be created in order to facilitate the liberalisation of exports.
"All processes necessary for the establishment of the regulatory are earmarked for completion by July 2020," he said.
Like its neighbours South Africa and Namibia, Botswana is a big exporter of beef, and was the ninth largest beef exporter to the European Union in 2019, though its earnings from beef exports have dropped from $130 million in 2010 to $80 million in 2018.
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Source: The Standard
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