TEMO LETLOTLO AND THUO LETLOTLO: TRANSFORMING AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK SECTORS FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH

Minister of Agriculture, Fidelis Mmilili Molao, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enhancing agricultural production and addressing barriers hindering sector growth through various programs. Speaking directly to farmers, Molao highlighted the importance of these initiatives in bolstering food security and transforming the agricultural landscape in Botswana.

One such program is Temo Letlotlo, a transformative endeavor aimed at improving food security across the nation. This multifaceted program, spanning across ministries, state-owned enterprises, and the private sector, focuses on enhancing productivity and output through a reward-based agro-ecological approach. Under the Household Food Security component, micro-scale farmers receive full subsidies to boost crop production, catering to their household needs. Meanwhile, the National Food Security component targets individual small-scale, medium-scale, and large-scale farmers, providing seasonal loans for input purchases, bolstered by the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme to mitigate risks.

Temo Letlotlo’s scope extends to fifteen priority crops, strategically mapped into twenty-five product spaces, aiming to foster employment opportunities through value addition. Incentives such as subsidies for fencing, tractors, and implements incentivize farmers to transition between categories, while improved extension services ensure technical guidance and support.

In parallel, the Thuo Letlotlo program aims to foster an inclusive, sustainable, and diversified livestock sub-sector. With 23 support packages tailored to various livestock types, the program targets the diverse needs of farmers, including

Agricultural Management Associations, Cooperatives, and Community Farms. Subsidized loans facilitate investment in infrastructure and livestock management practices, with a focus on range resource utilization and conservation.

Furthermore, Thuo Letlotlo seeks to commercialize the livestock sub-sector, restructuring governance and operations while unlocking opportunities for private sector participation and value chain development. By promoting sustainable practices and enhancing infrastructure for livestock product processing, the program aims to elevate the livestock industry’s contribution to Botswana’s economy.

Overall, these initiatives underscore the government’s proactive stance towards fostering agricultural development, with Temo Letlotlo and Thuo Letlotlo poised to drive transformational change within the sector.