Botswana’s Vice President and Minister of Finance, Ndaba Gaolathe, issued a strong call to action on Thursday, urging stakeholders to channel significant investment into the nation’s agricultural sector as a cornerstone for economic diversification.
Speaking at the opening of the Botswana Agriculture Business and Investment Forum in Tlokweng, just outside the capital Gaborone, Gaolathe outlined a vision to transform the sector from a minor contributor into a competitive, export-oriented engine for growth.
“Expanding agricultural production is not just about food security; it is a strategic economic imperative,” Gaolathe stated. He argued that boosting local output is critical for slashing the country’s substantial food import bill and generating foreign revenue through the export of value-added products.
The Vice President identified several high-potential areas for development, including advanced meat processing, expanded crop production, and the emerging field of nutraceuticals. He specifically called for private and public investment in foundational sectors such as seed production, food processing, animal feed manufacturing, fruit tree plantations, controlled-environment agriculture, and freshwater fisheries.
The push is part of a broader government strategy to reduce Botswana’s historic economic dependence on diamond mining. The government has set an ambitious target to nearly triple agriculture’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), raising it from the current 2 percent to 6 percent.
Acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Edwin Dikoloti, echoed the Vice President’s sentiments, framing the two-day forum as a vital platform to convert policy into reality. “This forum is designed to mobilize investment, forge stronger public-private partnerships, and translate our national strategies into concrete, bankable projects that will revolutionize Botswana’s agri-food systems,” Dikoloti said.
International partners also weighed in on the country’s agricultural potential. Carla Mucavi, the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) representative in Botswana, reaffirmed the UN agency’s commitment to supporting the nation’s goals. Through global initiatives like “One Country One Priority Product,” the FAO aims to help Botswana build sustainable and competitive value chains. “These targeted efforts will empower Botswana to access lucrative regional and international markets while simultaneously creating jobs and boosting local incomes,” Mucavi explained.
However, panelists acknowledged the hurdles that remain. Keletsositse Olebile, Chief Executive Officer of the Botswana Investment and Trade Center, pointed out that compliance with stringent international export standards continues to be a major barrier for local producers. He emphasized the need for enhanced support systems to equip farmers with the technical expertise, certification capacity, and quality control necessary to compete on a global stage.
The Botswana Agriculture Business and Investment Forum, held under the theme “Catalyzing Investments in Agri-Food Systems for Inclusive Growth and Food Sovereignty,” has drawn more than 400 participants, including investors, farmers, policymakers, producers, and financial institutions.
