BMC redoubles non-EU exports

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The Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) plans to redouble its efforts towards exports to Hong Kong, the Middle East and other markets to diversify against a reliance on the European Union and South Africa, Agriculture Minister, Christiaan De Graaf said this week.

The European Union has traditionally been the Commission’s mainstay, accounting for up to a tenth of revenues in previous years. However, outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease as well as livestock traceability issues triggered the delisting of local exports in 2011, exposing the BMC’s books and local farmers.

The Commission countered the delisting by sourcing new markets outside the EU, making regional inroads and even tapping Zimbabwe for FMD beef exports.

Editor's Comment
Mabogo dinku a thebana

According to both the acting director of Veterinary Services, Kobedi Segale and acting Lands and Agriculture minister, Edwin Dikoloti, the virus currently raging through the North-East mostly likely first entered the country during the festive season.From the “unprecedented” number of cases picked in testing last week, it is likely that cattle and other livestock could have been infected last year, without being reported.Animal health...

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