Government would not buy from Pig farmers as Batswana do not eat pork”

It was reportedly mentioned that the Assistant Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Beauty Manake, said that Government may not buy from pig farmers as many locals’ regard eating pork as a taboo.
The Assistant Minister said this at Maun on the 05th July 2021 while addressing the Ngamiland Farmers Associations held at Riley’s Hotel. The Okavango Express had reported that she made that statement after Vepaune Moreti, a farmer and also the Maun Administration Authority Chairman called on Government to support pig farmers by buying pork for consumption in schools. Manake rather insisted that pig farmers should focus more on the export market and the local tourism sector.
However, the Assistant Minister’s statement did not settle well with most of the pig farmers. Farmer’s Magazine Botswana engaged with some pig farmers to share their views about that particular statement. The farmers expressed that they were disappointed gravely and some even said it was an “irresponsible statement”.
The farmers indicated that the market is not as bad as the Assistant Minister perceives it and that Batswana do eat pork even though some still regard it as a taboo. Pork is considered a delicacy in Ramotswa and Mochudi. Surprisingly, a farmer in Tati Siding stated that pork is in demand in that area and they need more pig farmers.
One farmer in Ramotswa who started in 2017, expresses that the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security should focus more on including piggery in the subsides programme. He also said that government should support local pig farmers and enforce more regulations on importation of pork so that the local market is protected. He added that the high cost of pig feeds restricts him to only keep a limited number of up to 100 pig but he would love to produce more. Lastly, he mentioned that mostly depending on imports is not reliable because in 2019, South Africa was hit with Swine Flu and there was little to no pork sold locally as a result. On the other hand, other farmers were interested to know more about the export market and the local tourism sector that the Assistant Minister mentioned. In conclusion, all pig farmers share the same sentiments of wanting the Government to nurture and have a hand in the growth of pig farming just like all the other Agricultural sectors that are supported by the Government. FMB