27 Mar 2018

It is not illegal to import and consume Genetically Modified Organisms in Botswana as there is no legislation that prevents the importation of GMOs.

Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Mr Patrick Ralotsia said the law as it is now is silent on the production of GMOs and until the Biodiversity Act is enacted by Parliament, there is very little that can be done to regulate the handling of GMO products. 

Mr Ralotsia added that his ministry was working on Biodiversity Bill, which will be presented to Parliament before the end of the year.

He noted that the average cereal production cost per hectare in Botswana is estimated at P14 475 for sorghum and P21 175 for maize, whereas the average cereal production costs per hectare in South Africa is estimated at P7 925 for maize.

He highlighted that his ministry has not done any research to establish if the GMOs production has a bearing on the disparity in production costs in Botswana and South Africa.

However, literature indicates that using GMOs can reduce the cost of production due to the fact that there is no need to use inputs such as pesticides and herbicides.

Minister Ralotsia was responding to a question in Parliament asked by Member of Parliament for Chobe, Mr Machana Shamukuni, who had asked him to state the position of GMOs in the country, production of GMOs in the country, average cereal production costs per hectare in Botswana, how this compares with South Africa and how the GMOs production has a bearing on this disparity. ENDS