BVI and BAMB form groundbreaking partnership to strengthen livestock and agriculture sectors

Phatsimo Kapeng | Wednesday, July 3, 2024 10:37 AM

This transformational agreement heralds the beginning of a joint venture aimed at strengthening the livestock and agriculture sector in Botswana and the wider region. Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Andrew Madeswi, during his speech at the ceremony, expressed immense pride and gratitude for the collaboration. He emphasized that this agreement represents not only a partnership but also a shared vision to strengthen the livestock and agriculture sector in Botswana.

“This MOU marks the beginning of an exciting and mutually beneficial partnership that aims to contribute to the strengthening of the livestock and agriculture sector in our great country and region,” he stated. “In an era of rapid advances in animal health, organizations like ours need to work together, optimizing our capabilities and resources to robustly support the development of agriculture. Our partnership aims to expand our reach and ensure that key veterinary products are readily available to local farmers through BAMB’s extensive retail network,” Madeswi stated. Reflecting on the MOU negotiations, which began in 2023, Madeswi noted that numerous dimensions of value addition were explored to form key elements of the agreement. “As a self-financed company, BVI embraces collaboration through agreements that support our strategic focus and deliver tangible results,” he emphasized. He also highlighted the alignment between BVI and BAMB, two public bodies dedicated to delivering animal health solutions and impacting the lives of Batswana people engaged in agriculture.

BAMB CEO Pontsho Montle echoed Madeswi’s sentiments, stating: “By leveraging the complementary strengths and resources of BAMB and the BVI, this alliance promises to strengthen the competitiveness, resilience and sustainability of Botswana’s agriculture and livestock sectors. This will in turn enhance the country’s food security and boost economic development.” The partnership aims to optimise production capacity, mobilise resources and ensure the availability of essential veterinary medicines to the local farming community through BAMB’s extensive retail network. “By engaging in joint market research, we will better understand the specific needs and challenges faced by our farmers, which will allow us to tailor our products and solutions,” he said. The collaboration will focus on several key areas, including sourcing and distribution, joint research and marketing initiatives, market development and local production. These efforts are expected to significantly benefit the agricultural sector and stimulate growth opportunities.

This strategic partnership represents significant progress in creating shared value in the agriculture industry, promoting the health and welfare of farm animals, unlocking growth potential and contributing to the overall economic prosperity of Botswana and beyond. In his closing remarks, Madeswi thanked Montle and his team at BAMB for their partnership and assured them of the BVI’s utmost commitment to achieving significant results. “This MoU will be a testament to our collective commitment to promoting the health and welfare of our farm animals,” he reaffirmed.