Numerous opportunities in Botswana’s agricultural sector
The on-going COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerability of most countries’ food security and supply, particularly countries relying on food imports such as Botswana. This presents an urgent need for import substitution of basic agricultural products, hence new and more sophisticated ways of facilitating agricultural production need to be explored. The Botswana government has shown willingness to facilitate partnerships in strategic areas which help grow the sector for sustainable food security and growth.
As it stands, Botswana remains a net food importing country. According to Statistics Botswana, the country received total imports amounting to P 4 845.3 million in January 2020. Food and beverages contributed 16.5% amounting to P800.1 million.
The needs of the agricultural sector in the country which inversely, are the opportunities to be pursued can be summarized as follows;
Use of ICT
The pandemic has re-emphasized the need to take advantage and leverage ICT to do business in agriculture. Technologies such as marketing platforms, precision farming and the use of drones in agriculture will enhance agricultural production efficiency. Using drones can significantly enhance risk and damage assessments and revolutionize preparedness for and response to disasters that affect the livelihoods of vulnerable farmers and the country’s food security.
Horticulture
According to an article by Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN), Botswana is considered a net food importer, with an average annual food import bill of six billion pula over the past three years. Local production currently satisfies 54% of the national demand for horticulture products, with the remaining being imported. This presents opportunities for primary production as well as seeding production projects in strategic areas across the country. The development of agro-processing plants by the private sector around horticultural areas is also one of the key factors in reducing post-harvest losses.
Fruit Tree Production
Production of fruits, mainly citrus is estimated to meet only around 17% of the local demand according to publicly available information. Citrus trees perform very well under the Botswana climatic conditions, and they mature earlier than in some countries in the region, which presents a potential for satisfying the local market and later exporting these products. Selibe Phikwe Citrus Botswana state on their website that citrus fruit production has already begun in Selibe Phikwe on a 1200-hectare horticulture farm in the central district of Botswana. The first trees were planted in 2020, and first export is projected at 2024.
Aquaculture (Fish Production)
During an interview at the Botswana 2019 national agricultural show, the Senior Scientific Officer under the division of Aquaculture, Mr Montshwari Molefe highlighted that fish farming is still an untapped market that farmers could explore as an income generating stream. He also highlighted that the government constructed Mmadinare fish hatchery to supply fingerlings to farmers and stocking of community dams, a Fisheries Research and Development Facility to act as demonstrative facilities for aspiring fish farmers. The Aquaculture Legislation framework for aquaculture strategy has also been initiated.
Dairy Production
The Botswana dairy industry produces about 7 million litres of milk annually, while more than 53 million litres was imported in 2020/21. This created numerous investment opportunities for the South African dairy industry. According to the Department of Animal Production in Botswana, the national milk demand in the country was about 65 million litres, with local production meeting about 11% of this. This indicates that 89% of liquid milk was imported, and the bulk of it comes from South Africa.
These figures emerged during a webinar on the ‘Opportunities in Botswana’s dairy industry’ hosted by Farmer’s Weekly, in partnership with the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre and the Botswana Ministry of Agriculture Development and Food Security, in September 2021. Opportunities are numerous for local farmers to increase dairy herd, develop strategic farming areas, fodder production zones and establish processing plants for milk and dairy products.
This article was prepared by Data Collection & Analysis, a market research firm. Feedback or enquiries can be relayed to 76740658/research@easternman.co.bw