Economy

Botswana to export donkey meat, hides to Hong Kong

Date: Sep 12, 2016

The government of Botswana has appealed to communal livestock farmers to start rearing donkeys for purposes of meat and hide exports to a Chinese investor based in Hong Kong.

In an interview with the Botswana Press Agency (BOPA), Agriculture minister Patrick Ralotsia said the government would soon start issuing export permits to enable local farmers to sell donkeys for meat and hides to a local investor who had markets in South East Asia.

Ralotsia said once licensed, locals would sell their donkeys to the local investor who had established meat and hide markets in Hong Kong. “If this turns out to be a lucrative market, Batswana will benefit a lot from the breeding and selling (of) donkeys, which have often been perceived as useless animals. The investors’ main customer will be Hong Kong, but they will also explore other markets elsewhere to maximise their profits,” Ralotsia said.

In China and Hong Kong, donkey meat is considered a delicacy, while the hide is valued for the alleged medicinal qualities of gelatine, a natural chemical believed to have life extending qualities, in addition to treating insomnia and related medical conditions.

The hide is also a key ingredient of the Chinese “ejiao” industry, which legally produces tablets, tonics and some sweet syrups. Further, the minister said earlier market research had shown huge potential for donkey meat and hide exports to Denmark, Germany and France although there was no information on the drivers of the demand.

According to government estimates, there are nearly 300,000 donkeys in the communal areas of Botswana. Apart from its traditional use as the beast of burden, the donkey’s meat is also a favourite delicacy among the Bakgalakgadi, San and other communities of south, central and northern Botswana.

--ANA--

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