A report commissioned by The World Bank and Botswana Institute for Policy Analysis (BIDPA) entitled 'Prospects For Export Diversification in Botswana' has revealed that for Botswana, Ostrich products could become a significant contributor towards diversification of the economy.

The report, which is still yet to be made public by BIDPA reports that Ostrich products are a principal export following gold and diamonds.

It says that although ostrich feathers are no longer a fashion item, they remain dominant in the world market as they are used in various products.

Within Southern Africa, Botswana is cited by the report as the home of the world' largest wild bird, the ostrich but the country is said to be lagging behind South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe in developing the commercial potential of ostriches.

While ostrich farmers closed the only ostrich abattoir in the country last year because of insufficient supply, the report notes that at least 43 farmers are registered in the country with only 35 said to be active.

Ostrich farming is said to be a lucrative business venture, however the country does not have a tannery factory as yet. "Possible participation in leather production and manufacturing is a distant possibility, but it needs to be noted in any long-term strategy for the industry."

The defunct Ostrich abattoir was run by a company called Botswana Ostrich Company (BOC),which struggled to receive a European Union (EU) certification until August 2004.

This was largely because the technical and capital demands are significantly greater than for cattle and other livestock production.

The report regrets that only domestically reared ostriches are slaughtered and this means that ostriches are generally hatched on farms with incubation facilities and to ensure survival, reared for three months before moving on to well fenced farms.

Ostriches are usually slaughtered at ten months in specially constructed abattoirs.

Since access to the EU market was secured, when it was active the BOC was able to supply around 3 tons per month to the wholesale trade in Belgium.

"This is relatively small compared to the 350 tons supplied to the EU as a whole by South African Exporters. The BOC is currently selling chilled rather than frozen meat. The costs of transporting the former are significantly higher, but it is considered important to build relationships with buyers and payment within a week of shipment, chilled meat products are helpful cash flow," The report has noted