SMI SUSPENDS CATTLE FARMERS IMPORT BONUS

MBABANE – The Swaziland Meat Industries (SMI) has suspended the import bonus for cattle farmers amid the ban of exports to Europe.

Following the suspension of an approximately over E83.6 million European Union (EU) beef export market, the company informed cattle farmers that during this period it would only purchase the cattle for the local markets.
Swaziland’s beef exports through SMI are destined to Europe, Norway, France and Mozambique.
“We will not offer the export bonus but will continue to buy the cattle from local farmers,” Philiswa Dlamini from SMI said.

According to the Central Bank of Swaziland Annual Report for 2015/16, boneless beef exports to the EU remained above 500 metric tonnes while volumes to the Mozambican market declined marginally due to a shortage of foreign exchange currency in that country.
Meanwhile, the ban on exported beef follows the country’s gift from the Republic of Zambia, which presented the country with three buffaloes on September 3, 2017.
Minister of Agriculture Moses Vilakati, in a press conference last week Friday, said the gift from Zambia was a move to assist the country in boosting its buffalo numbers as part of bolstering the tourism sector.
Vilakati said he believed that President Edgar Lungu observed a shortage of buffaloes, which are part of the Big Five, when he visited Hlane Royal Park, hence the decision of the gift. 

He mentioned that information about the presence of the buffaloes in the country was subsequently received by the EU, which is the country’s beef trading partner.
“The EU has responded by advising us to suspend all beef exports or issuance of exports certificates until the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) status of the buffaloes is clarified,” explained the minister.
 As such, he said the country has found it prudent to take the advice and has duly suspended the exportation of beef to the EU and Norway.
“We are doing everything possible to ensure that the country remains FMD free,” Vilakati assured.

The minister also explained that the buffaloes were accompanied by documents to the effect that they were tested for FMD, with negative results.
Despite testing negative, he said as a country with FMD free status, ‘we had to take precautionary measures.’
Detailing the measures taken by government, the minister said upon arrival, the animals were quarantined at Malindza.

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