Non-Citizens benefit unfairly from livestock support scheme
Pauline Dikuelo | Monday May 11, 2026 06:00
The Livestock Support Scheme was implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture following the declaration of a moderate drought year by the President during the 2021/2022 period. The declaration was made on the recommendation of the Botswana Vulnerability Assessment Committee (BVAC), prompting government intervention to assist struggling farmers.
As part of the drought relief measures, the Ministry introduced a 15% subsidy on livestock feed for extensive grazing livestock farmers. The subsidy was effective from 1 August 2022 to 31 January 2023 and was intended to ease the financial burden on farmers affected by poor grazing conditions and rising feed costs.
However, the Auditor General's report for the financial year ended 31 March 2023 findings revealed significant weaknesses in the implementation of the scheme, with unauthorised parties reportedly gaining access to the subsidy.
According to the audit, non-citizens and companies purchased subsidised livestock feed from participating suppliers despite the scheme guidelines clearly stating that only individual citizen farmers possessing valid national identity cards (Omang) were eligible to benefit.
'Audit examination revealed that non-citizens and companies unduly benefited from the scheme by purchasing livestock feed from participating suppliers, contrary to the Guidelines which stipulated that the subsidy was to benefit only individual farmers with national identity cards (Omang),' read the report.
The audit noted that the payment of subsidies to ineligible entities represented a clear departure from the approved guidelines governing the programme. The findings further highlighted that the failure to put in place effective control measures created loopholes that enabled unauthorised beneficiaries to access public funds intended for drought relief.
In addition, the audit uncovered cases of non-compliant retail outlets participating in the scheme. The guidelines required subsidised livestock feed to be sold through compliant retail outlets at government approved capped prices.
However, auditors found that some participating suppliers sold feed items at prices higher than the approved rates.
The report stated that such non-compliance undermined government’s objective of cushioning farmers against the adverse effects of drought and may have significantly reduced the intended benefits of the subsidy programme. Farmers who were already struggling with the impact of drought conditions may have been forced to pay more than what was envisaged under the relief intervention.
Further concerns were raised over unclear implementation guidelines, which auditors said created opportunities for abuse of the programme. The guidelines stipulated that the maximum quantity per purchase for each subsidised feed item should be limited to ten items.
However, audit enquiries revealed that some implementing officers interpreted the provision to mean that farmers could purchase the maximum quantities every day rather than as a once-off limit.
The ambiguity in the wording reportedly resulted in inconsistent application of the rules and may have enabled some beneficiaries to make repeated purchases within a short period, thereby exceeding the intended limits of the scheme. Auditors warned that the lack of clarity undermined equitable access to the subsidy and increased the risk of abuse and rapid depletion of programme funds.
'The implementation Guidelines stipulated that the maximum quantity per purchase for each subsidised feed item should be 10 items, however, audit enquiries revealed that implementing officers interpreted this provision to mean that farmers could purchase the prescribed maximum quantities per day. The lack of clarity in the guidelines created room for varying interpretations, potentially enabling some farmers to make multiple purchases in a short period, thereby exceeding the intended limits,' read the report.
The revelations have raised broader concerns about oversight, accountability, and policy implementation within government support programmes.