09 Jul 2025

Botswana cattle industry is experiencing a decline, prompting  calls for immediate and targeted interventions to boost production and stabilise the herd.

Speaking at the launch of the Bonno National Housing Programme Target 61 000 Constituency Housing Units in Palapye on July 8, President Advocate Duma Boko said it was therefore critical to transform the cattle industry to address the alarming decrease in cattle numbers.

He said the country›s cattle population, once estimated at three million and has recently plummeted to an estimated 1.1 million.

“This situation is a crisis that has reached an alarming level. If the decline continues over the next three years, Botswana risks increasing its reliance on imported beef, which will further inflate the already heavy import bill for agricultural produce,” President Boko said.

The President stressed the need for intensified, tailor-made interventions to reverse the trend and called for a collaborative effort among experts to combat the dwindling cattle herd.

He expressed optimism that the industry could recover swiftly, aiming to see the herd increase to at least five million.

 President Boko also discussed broader national development strategies. He announced plans to transition from the traditional National Development Plan (NDP) to a more comprehensive National Transformation Programme.

“My mission is transformational change that genuinely reflects the daily lives of our people. This new approach will demystify solutions, make challenges easier to address, and ensure that development is inclusive and effective.”

He announced that the launch of the National Transformation Programme would feature a diverse team of both local and international experts.

The initiative aims to revolutionise key sectors including housing, education, agriculture, infrastructure, the economy, and livelihoods, ultimately transforming Botswana into a vibrant, thriving nation.

 “We want all Batswana to partake in this transformative journey to elevate our country to new heights,”President Boko said.

Despite budget constraints, President Boko assured that the government was committed to deploying all necessary resources. ENDS