Service Description:

Agriclture Services Support Project (ASSP) is designed to enhance the productivity of rainfed agriculture through refocusing ISPAAD to become a more effective instrument of rural poverty reduction; through use of improved agricultural technologies, lower cost farm mechanization and develop a viable model for smallholder irrigation using waste water resources.

 How do I obtain the service?

• Contact the nearest Crop Production Office or the Agricultural Extension Office.
• No application Requirements. Selection for piloting is done by the farmers and the Extension Officer.
• Only committed farmers will be assisted.

What is the cost of the service?

No costs involved.

Where can I get more information?

See:    ASSP Briefing Notes.

Postal Address:                                          Physical Address

Director                                               Ministry ofAgriculture HQ

Awarding of Tender

Through the Ministerial Tender Committee, the Ministry of Agriculture Adjudicates and award tenders in line with the procurement procedures specified in the PPAD Act (No 10 of 2003) and is expected to at all times comply with the financial thresholds  (currently between P20 000.01 and P5 000 000.00) and reporting conditions specified by the PPADB from time to time.

The MTC is mandated to ensure that all decisions relating to procurement and disposal process incorporate and promote:

–        Competition among contractors

–        Fair and equitable treatment of all contractors

The tendering cycle in the MTC is as follows;

(Formal Tender)

1. Vetting of the ITT
2. Publishing the tender
3. Submission of bids
4. Tender closure and opening
5. Submission to the Procuring Entity for evaluation
6. Submission to the MTC for adjudication and award
7. Notification and publication of committee decisions on tender request
8. Contract award /agreements
9. Contract implementation (engagement)

 (Informal Tender)

1. Requests for quotations
2. Submission of bids
3. Tender closure and opening
4. Submission to the Procuring Entity for evaluation
5. Submission to the MTC for adjudication and award
6. Notification and publication of committee decisions on tender request
7. Contract award /agreements
8. Contract implementation (engagement)

Procurement Methods

The other methods of procurement which in anyway follow the same procedures as outlined above are; Selective Tendering, Open International/Local  bidding, Restricted Local/International bidding, Expression of Interest and Direct Procurement.

For us to fully discharge the above procurement methods we are guided by the annual procurement plan submitted by various departments which  is a written document indicating the goods, works and services, expected to be procured, the procurement methods, recurring and non-recurring expenditure, the targets and milestones, and the estimated costs.

Cost of Tender Documents

As per the Circular Savingram Ref ACC.C227 I (7) dated 15 August 2008, from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, the standardization of the cost of buying tender documents in government was implemented to ensure that documents are collected by serious bidders as well as to ensure cost recovery by the government. The charges are standard across all government ministries to promote open, fair and transparent tendering and commercial practices across government. The prices are outlined below;

Important: As a procurement facilitation independent body, we are greatly concerned about bidders who fail to honor contract agreements after tender awards. This negatively affects the ministry at large and the idea of a developed, productive and innovative Botswana due to under quoting which results in supply of low quality products, delayed project completions and or completely failing projects. We emphasize serious competitors to ensure serious procurement developments.

For more Information Contact:

Ministerial Tender Committee Office:

Our Physical Address

Ministry of Agriculture Headquarters

Plot Number 4701

Station Road (off Mandela Road)

 Ministerial Tender Committee

Office No.002, Ground Floor.

Services provided for Hides and skins

• Farmer training on various aspects of hides and skins.
• Provide permits on importation and exportation of hides and skins.
• Assists farmers with preparations of hides and skins for exports.
• Provide technical advice and practical skills on value addition in tanning and leatherworks.

 How do I get the services?

Farmer training

Contact your nearest District Animal Production office and consult with hides and skins personnel.

Hides and skins Business

All hides and skins buyers and exporters are required by law (Hides and Skins Act Cap 49:01) to possess a license entitling them to purchase and or export hides and skins unless it is for domestic use.

Types of licenses

They are two types of licenses  

• Buyer’s license – Which entitles one to buy hides and skins within a specified district and one is free to have as many as he can for the various districts.
• Exporter’s license – Which entitles one to buy hides and skins across the country and export them to the rest of the world.

How to obtain a license

The customer presents himself/herself to the nearest Department of Animal Production (DAP) office and makes a request. Plot assessment is done and where necessary the public health office is involved that is, for instances where there are no plots/areas designated for industrial sites). A license may then be granted under the following conditions:

• Availability of water;
• Availability of a drainage system;
• A shed/shelter where the hides/skins will be preserved and kept; and
• A quarantine area (only for an exporters license)

License Fees

            Buyers license P100.00 per year

Exporters license P200.00 per year

NB: Licenses expire on the 31^st December each year and it is renewable only on condition that one complies with the hides and skins export Act.

 Preparation of Hides and Skins for Export

Pre-requisites   

• Exporters license
• Import permit to destination country stipulating conditions under which the consignment may be accepted.

Procedure to be followed

• Treat hides/skins as per the conditions stipulated on the import permit with the assistance of DAP staff (usually hides and skins are sprayed with 4% Sodium Carbonate and quarantined for 30 to 90 days) and the DAP office issues a quarantine certificate.
• After completion of the stipulated quarantine days, consignment may be loaded in sealable vessels/vehicles, DAP officer seals the consignment and issues an inspection certificate.
• Payment of an export levy at DAP accounts office which is charged per piece of hide or skin at P16.00 and P1.50 respectively is done.
• The quarantine and inspection certificates are then presented to a Veterinary Officer who will then prepare an export certificate indicating the seal numbers, mode of transport, number of pieces of hides/skins and the condition or preservation mode. 
• The consignment can leave for export through the stipulated boarder post accompanied by the four certificates (Qurantine, inspection, import and export certificates).

Where can I get further information?

Contact the head office on the addresses listed below:

Postal Address                                                            Physical Address

Department of Animal Production                         Ministry of Agriculture (Headquarters)

Private Bag 0032                                                            1^st Floor Room 144

Gaborone                                                                      Plot 4701 Mmaraka Rd

Tel: 368 9173                                                                Gaborone