Training
The Department of Animal Production offers poultry farming training. Register at your nearest District Animal Production Office with a certified copy of your Omang. The animal production officer will tell you when the next course starts.
Keeping birds
Small flocks for home use do not need a licence. Once you sell, keep records and talk to your District Veterinary Office about registration, disease reporting and any movement requirements. Botswana’s animal identification and traceability system (BAITS) is used for livestock movement permits; ask the office what applies to poultry in your district.
Slaughtering and selling meat
Slaughtering birds for sale to the public requires a licensed poultry abattoir or related premises. Applications go to the Department of Veterinary Services with a certified Omang copy or company registration, proof of ownership or land use, a site plan and a premises plan. The published processing time is sixty working days. The Department of Animal Production also has a programme that assists farmers with building poultry abattoirs.
Importing birds, chicks or feed
Importing live poultry, hatching eggs, day-old chicks, poultry products or feed requires an import permit from the Department of Veterinary Services, applied for at your District Veterinary Office. Permits are refused when the origin country has a notifiable disease outbreak such as avian influenza or Newcastle disease. See the import rules page under Industry.
Financing
In 2026 the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) launched a revamped poultry financing suite intended to finance poultry farmers, support new hatcheries and strengthen local feed production. Contact CEDA for current terms. Government has also announced the Botswana Livestock Commercialisation Project (BOLCOP), in partnership with IFAD, to commercialise small livestock value chains including poultry.
Where to go first
Your District Agricultural Office. It houses animal production and veterinary staff who can point you to training, permits and current programmes.