Botswana Meat Commission

🇧🇼 Overview & History

• Founded: December 24, 1965, by parliamentary act as a non-profit parastatal to develop Botswana’s livestock sector.

• Mandate: Sole exporter and processor of Botswana beef. Purchases, slaughters, processes, and markets cattle; surplus profits are returned to farmers as bonuses.

🌍 Operations & Facilities

• Main complex: Located in Lobatse—an integrated site containing an abattoir, deboning/cutting plant, cannery, rendering plant, and tannery.

• Abattoirs:

  • Lobatse: ~800 head/day capacity

  • Francistown: ~350–400 cattle/day

  • Maun: ~100/day; closed in 1996 and reopened in 2010.

• International operations: Subsidiaries in the UK, Germany, Netherlands; cold storage in South Africa; insurance arm in Cayman Islands .

📦 Product Range & Markets

• Products: Chilled/frozen beef, canned goods (corned beef, pet food, ox-tongue), hides, leather, and other by-products.

• Markets: Exports to EU, UK, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Kuwait, Iran, Hong Kong, South Africa, Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, etc.

✅ Quality & Certifications

• Standards: ISO 9001 certified; HACCP-compliant under SANS & BRC; EU-approved abattoirs in Lobatse and Francistown.

🐄 Role & Economic Impact

• Economic importance: Beef was Botswana’s primary foreign exchange earner before diamonds and remains a key export — over 95% of production is exported.

• Livelihoods: Supports communal and commercial farmers; surplus funds support rural communities .

🛠️ Challenges & Revitalisation

• Issues: Suffered operational losses, plant closures, and restructuring; Maun plant was temporarily closed due to low cattle supply; retrenchments occurred across facilities.

• Government intervention: 2025/26 budget for revitalization, including stronger management structures and efficiency improvements to support farmers and boost exports.

🧭 Quick Summary

In essence, the Botswana Meat Commission is a strategic, government-owned corporation integral to Botswana’s agricultural economy—providing market access for farmers, maintaining high export standards, and contributing significantly to foreign export revenues. Its recent revitalisation efforts highlight its importance to both rural communities and the national economy.