Poultry industry oligopoly under spotlight
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Government is expected to soon open up the poultry industry
CA’s communications and advocacy manager, Gladys Ramadi recently told stakeholders that the price of chicken in Botswana is amongst the highest in the region due to tight restrictions that protect the dominant players.
This came after small poultry entrepreneurs expressed concerns at a stakeholder meeting that it was difficult to penetrate the local poultry industry as the country’s big players have agreements to lock out everybody else.
Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...