Botswana launches MilkAfric dairy facility to boost production, reduce import 

BOTSWANA – Botswana has officially launched the MilkAfric dairy facility in an effort to diversify the economy and develop the local dairy industry, reducing reliance on imports from neighbouring countries. 

MilkAfric, established in 2010, was created to support Botswana’s dairy sector by building a sustainable system that delivers certified, high-quality local food through strategic growth, partnerships, and sound management.

In 2013, MilkAfric partnered with the Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) to help empower young dairy entrepreneurs and establish a national dairy pilot out-grower scheme. 

This partnership developed an anchor dairy farm in Lobatse, designed to model the best practices for dairy farming across the country.

Earlier this year, MilkAfric began production at its much-anticipated dairy facility, seven years after the project was initiated. 

The Botswana Development Corporation (BDC), which took over full control of the project in 2020, purchased 220 cattle, including 170 dairy cows and 50 heifers, from a local farm in Pitsane. 

The cows were initially housed at Pitsane while final preparations were made to complete the milking parlour at MilkAfric.

According to BDC Managing Director, Cross Kgosidiile, the company successfully conducted a dry commissioning of the milking equipment, followed by a wet commissioning that involved testing with live cows. 

By May, the cows were moved to the MilkAfric facility, where production reached over 3,000 liters of milk per day. 

The company aims to increase its herd to 2,000 dairy cows in the coming years, gradually expanding capacity to meet growing demand.

MilkAfric currently has 10 permanent employees, all trained in the USA, and 59 additional workers involved in completing infrastructure projects such as roads, water systems, and other facility upgrades. 

The project has drawn significant investment from BDC, which has spent millions on infrastructure improvements, including boreholes, electricity, and working capital.

Despite these advancements, Botswana continues to rely heavily on dairy imports, particularly from South Africa. 

Between April and December 2023, Botswana imported 36 million liters of pasteurized milk, up from 12 million liters during the same period in the previous year. 

The country currently has 5,000 lactating cows, significantly below the 15,000 cows needed to meet its annual demand of 61 million liters of milk.

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