27 Jul 2025

President Advocate Duma Boko has urged for a radical transformation of the country’s agricultural sector to re-establish its vital role as a key driver of the economy.

Speaking on Saturday at the Ghanzi 2025 Agricultural Show, President Boko expressed concern over the sector’s declining contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which had plummeted from 40 per cent to less than 10 per cent to date. He attributed the decline to the emergence of commodities like diamonds, upon which the country relied on and highlighted the need to diversify the economy and revive agriculture’s historic economic significance.

“The sector faced numerous challenges, including low and unreliable rainfall, extreme heat, prolonged droughts, flood, invasive plant species, and a lack of expertise,” said President Boko. 

He pointed to the signing of the Kampala Declaration of 2025, which called for collective efforts and the adoption of advanced practices aimed at increasing the sector’s contribution to GDP by at least by six per cent.

“Transformation must be radical, drastic, and dramatic,” President Boko said. 

The government would also foster collaborations and partnerships to achieve this objective by re-examining growth levels that would propel the government beyond the baseline of the set target of six per cent. He highlighted ongoing efforts to establish comprehensive agriculture centres of excellence across various districts, where the best skills would be shared.

These centres, he said were  expected to serve as innovation hubs for training, capacity building, and equipping farmers with the skills and knowledge necessary to reach government’s goal of increasing the cattle herd from one to five million.

Additionally, President Boko informed farmers about the government’s initiatives to liberalise the beef sector through the establishment of the Meat Regulatory Authority, aimed at ensuring smooth business operations. He challenged all stakeholders to rise above complacency and generate progressive ideas that could reshape the industry and help restore the economy to its former glory.

When giving an overview of the event, Ghanzi Show Trust chairperson, Mr Mpho Molomo said it had been in existence since 1974 and had grown in leaps and bounds necessitated by collective efforts of different committees and the district leadership. Mr Molomo said the 51st edition theme: Sowing seeds of Innovation for Agricultural Transformation, was befitting in today’s changing world.

 He said they were committed to heeded the call to transform agricultural sector by encouraging communities to adopt innovative ways that would enhance productivity. Mr Molomo acknowledged the contribution of Ghanzi farmers who had promoted the region for its dominance in cattle farming and implored the youth to play a role in the sector and create employment opportunities.

This year’s show, he said, attracted about 60 private company exhibitors, 25 government stalls, 37 livestock exhibitors, 30 SMMEs and over 100 tourism and hospitality exhibitors among others. Kgosi Annah Rankho for her part implored all to use the show as a platform that could lure aspiring farmers in order to grow the sector. ENDS