MorataBW

The New Wave
of Wealth &
Fortune Could
Be Inside The
Piggy Bank
Evidence shows that the demand for
pork is currently high with a dwarfed
supply. Optimistic studies observe that
in the coming years, Botswana will be
self-sufficient in pork production.
BY KAGISO KGOTLAETSHO
IN IRONY THAT COMES WITH LIFE,
despite it being referred to as a “filthy”
animals and its flesh being avoided
by many religions but on the contrary
associated with all the good things in the
western and some eastern cultures, a pig is
regarded as a symbol of luck and a synonym
of wealth and fortune.
Not really a well traditionally domesticated
animal in Botswana farms, a pig is now the
in thing and there is a revolution of the
demand for pork by Batswana and shops as
an alternative to beef which is perceived to
be not healthy. There are currently many
budding piggery productions and in the
social media many people are found a niche
market for selling. It used to be chicken
meat, now pork gathers meat lovers for a
The statistics
provided by
the Ministry
of Agriculture
and Food
Security
indicate that
the numbers
are gradually
increasing
with years.
roast or a braai in most social gatherings.
According to verified statistics dating back
to 2017, pig population proved to increase
annually. In 2017 there were 9 439 pigs, 2018
the number went to 10 073 while in 2019 12
076 pigs were recorded.
According to the Senior Scientific Officer at
Ministry of Agriculture, Othusitse Sebolaakhudu,
this growth in pig population was mostly in
2019.
“We noticed this growth in 2019 after the
government introduced the subsidy in pig feed,”
he said. He further pointed out that even the
market opened up and shops started buying pork
products at a better price as compared to the
past years where the scale was about 29 to 32
per kg, and now the prices are around 42 per kg
hence Batswana tapping into that market.
24 MorataBW March 2021
Photo by Michael Longmire on Unsplash