The Government, through the Ministry of Entrepreneurship, has launched a transformative initiative aimed at supporting small and medium-sized cattle farmers. The new programme, dubbed “Maja-A-Ikgorosa,” was recently announced by President Mokgweetsi Masisi at a BDP manifesto launch in Tlokweng and aims to address critical challenges within the beef industry.
A collaborative effort between the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC), Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB), Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA), and Local Enterprise Authority (LEA), the programme seeks to help primary cattle producers secure better value for their livestock. At the heart of this initiative is the recognition that Botswana’s once-premium “Botswana Beef” is losing its international reputation due to a declining supply of conditioned cattle to the BMC.
“The reduced supply of quality cattle has negatively impacted the volume and value of Botswana’s beef exports, a situation the Maja-A-Ikgorosa programme aims to reverse. Botswana’s cattle farming system is shaped by its semi-arid environment, which poses challenges for farmers who struggle to raise livestock to slaughter without supplementary feeding. The high cost of animal feed and the associated burden on cash flow have put many smaller farmers at a disadvantage, forcing them to sell under-conditioned cattle at low prices to feedlots or the BMC,” the Ministry of Entrepreneurship says in a press statement.
The statement says mall and medium-sized farmers, who own more than 80% of Botswana’s cattle herd, often find the cost of feed prohibitively high. This imbalance in the cattle farming sector, Government says, has perpetuated a cycle of poverty, with disadvantaged farmers selling their livestock at below-market prices in a desperate bid to stay afloat. “As a result, wealth disparities have widened, undermining the national goal of Prosperity For All, outlined in Botswana’s Vision 2036.:
The Ministry says the programme is designed to break this cycle by empowering small to medium-sized farmers. The initiative offers financial support, animal feed, veterinary medicines, and records management tools to help farmers improve the quality of their livestock. In addition, farmers will receive business performance support, enabling them to access better market pricing through direct sales to the BMC.
This initiative is part of Government’s broader efforts to implement the Economic Inclusion Act of 2021, which aims to increase economic participation among Batswana and reduce deprivation. By facilitating access to vital resources and ensuring that small to medium-sized farmers can contribute meaningfully to the value chain, the Maja-A-Ikgorosa programme is a significant step towards boosting Botswana’s beef industry and empowering its primary producers.
Ultimately, this relief programme represents a vital opportunity for small and medium-sized farmers to thrive in an increasingly competitive market, ensuring sustainable livelihoods and enhancing Botswana’s beef exports on the global stage.
