Botswana’s small businesses in the catering and butchery sectors are coming under mounting pressure as the suspension of slaughtering cloven-hoofed animals following the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak disrupts beef supply chains and pushes operating costs higher.
For many small, medium and micro enterprises, beef shortages are no longer just a supply issue – they are becoming a survival issue.
Botswana Informal Sector Association secretary general Mpho Matoteng says the month-long restrictions have left many small operators scrambling to source beef from FMD-free zones, a process that comes with added transport costs, permit requirements and reduced margins.
‘Business is difficult for our people at the moment because beef is scarce,’ Matoteng told Sunday Standard.
‘For those who have been able to secure it, they have to navigate the complexities of obtaining permits and transporting slaughtered meat. This comes with significant costs.’
The strain is beginning to show across the informal food economy, where small caterers and butcheries depend heavily on affordable and predictable beef supply.
Some businesses have responded by raising prices to protect already thin margins. Others have simply shut their doors.
‘While some have opted to increase food prices, others have unfortunately shut down their businesses,’ Matoteng said.
The situation has been compounded by higher prices at the Botswana Meat Commission, leaving smaller operators with few affordable alternatives.
The outbreak’s consequences extend beyond local lunch counters and butcher blocks. Botswana’s beef export access to the European Union has also come under threat after the outbreak affected Zone 11, home to the country’s only EU-approved slaughter facility in Ramatlabama.
For SMMEs, however, the immediate concern is cash flow.