LEA Sees Rise In Demand For Eggs
Pauline Dikuelo | Monday February 11, 2019 18:00
The Agency noted in a recent study that the introduction of table eggs in the primary schools feeding menu suggests that all districts will have an increased demand and therefore opportunities would arise.
“LEA has carried out the study on the primary schools feeding programme with the main objective being to compile market information for the support of local SMMEs in response to the revised menu,” it said.
During the 2017/2018 financial year, the Department of Local Government and Procurement Services announced the revision of the pre and primary schools feeding menu into a full school-feeding programme.
The revised menu will now include some horticulture produce in the form of tomatoes, cabbages, spinach, onion, beetroots, butternuts, carrots, spinach, rape as well as oranges and table eggs.
The revised menu procurement follows Local Procurement Scheme, which requires local producers to increase production for the specified products to meet this new demand. The introduction of the primary schools feeding programme means that the total demand for the selected vegetables and fruits will increase by five billion kilograms annually.“LEA periodically conducts research to support SMME information needs as well as LEA decision making and programming towards SME development.”
According to the Agency’s 2017/2018 annual report, two market surveys were on ‘The supply opportunities in the pre-primary and primary schools feeding programme’ and market study was on Medical Consumables, devices and equipment.
The findings of the medical study which was concluded in August 2017 was intended to provide new entrants into manufacturing and supply of medical consumables with information on the market structure, market size and distribution channels.
The major findings of the study were that Botswana is a net importer of all medical consumables, devices and equipment identifying opportunities for manufacturing including linen savers, swabs, bandages, infusion sets, and gloves. The annual import bill for products selected for the study is in excess of P40 million annually.
“The Authority will develop business plans for the identified business opportunities, a very critical step towards creation of new businesses,” it sad.
The local medical industry is still at an infant stage with only tiny fraction of product lines manufactured in Botswana including syringes, needles, swabs, specimen container bottles and facemasks.