Milk Valley targets 15m litres of annual production
Lewanika Timothy | Wednesday November 11, 2026 06:00
The Botswana Development Corporation (BDC)-owned farm has received about 600 Girolando cattle from Brazil to support the expansion. The production target represents planned capacity at full scale, with herd growth and supporting infrastructure being developed in phases.
Speaking during President Duma Boko’s recent visit, BDC managing director Oteng Keabetswe said milk sales had begun, with strong demand and storage tanks emptied every two days. He said the farm expected to cover its daily operating expenses once approximately 400 cows were producing milk, making the number of lactating animals an important milestone in its commercial development.
Calving was expected to peak in November and December, with between 400 and 500 calves anticipated by the end of January. Covering daily expenses would mark progress towards operating sustainability, although it would not necessarily mean the project had recovered its investment costs.
The expansion follows years of efforts to establish a larger domestic dairy industry. Previously known as Milk Afric, the project was relaunched as Milk Valley Farm in 2024, with an investment of P70 million and an initial herd of 270 dairy cows.
The commercial opportunity remains substantial. In its 2026–2027 budget presentation, the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture put domestic milk production at 8.2 million litres, meeting only 13% of national demand, with imports valued at P370.4 million. High feed costs and limited breeding stock were identified as constraints on local production.
Previous reports pegged annual national demand of approximately 65 million litres. Against that benchmark, Milk Valley’s targeted output would cover about 23%, although this remains dependent on the farm achieving its planned production levels.
“This investment will strengthen domestic milk production, create employment, develop local skills, and contribute meaningfully to Botswana’s food security and economic diversification objectives,” Keabetswe said when the first Brazilian cattle arrived in July.
The rollout has, however, faced setbacks of its own, with a Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak temporarily delaying cattle imports earlier this year, before the farm secured FMD-Free Dairy Compartment Status in June. Expansion now includes additional cattle housing and infrastructure to accommodate the growing herd and support higher milk output.