30 Oct 2025

Crop Production for the 2024/25 ploughing season is not enough to sustain the national cereal demand, which calls for imports to augment deficit. 

The Ministry of Lands and Agriculture Public Relations Officer Ms Neo Lenkopane said this when responding to BOPA questionnaire, stating that produced cereals accounted for 36.9 per cent of national cereal demand which was 300,000 tonnes. 

The reported production, she said was mainly from Pandamatenga commercial farms contributing 81.2 per cent to the total production. 

Ms Lenkopane stated that a total of 137,876.84 tonnes had been harvested from a total of 185,892.36 hectares by 45,779 farmers of all categories being commercial, emerging and subsistence farmers who contributed 77.58 per cent, 0.84 per cent and 21.58 percent respectively. 

The area planted during 2024/25 cropping season showed an increase by 41.42 per cent as compared to 130,533. 30 hectares planted by 27,808 farmers in 2023/24 season. 

She said it remained significantly lower than 272 ,803 hectares planted by 76,272 farmers during the 2022/2023 season, which was supported by exceptionally favourable rainfall conditions. 

During the 2024/25 season, cereal crops dominated the planted area covering 122,701.98 hectares, citing that maize was the most widely cultivated crop accounting 74,139.87 hectares or 40 per cent followed by sorghum at 39,568.28 hectares. 

Ms Lenkopane stated that the country was facing a shortage in national grain supply therefore export of local produce was restricted to protect food security in the country.  The country usually exported mung bean and chick peas because they have a high demand outside the country, fetches better prices and were not commonly consumed locally. 

She appealed to the farming community to be prepared for the upcoming cropping season which was forecasted to receive normal to above normal rainfall country wide.  Farmers, she said, should be well prepared by having robust pests and weed control programme to deal with anticipated pests outbreaks and high weeds infestations. 

She also implored farmers to uphold proper soil management practices such as ripping and maintaning drainage systems to drain excess water from the fields.  Ms Lenkopane advised farmers to have effective soil fertilisation to be able to replenish nutrient loss expected from excessive moisture. 

For her part, the Chief Executive Officer of Pandamatenga Commercial Farmers Association Ms Lilian Costa Scheepers said there was limited export access and processing capacity, saying Botswana lacked streamlined export procedures, bilateral protocols and agro-processing infrastructure which reduced income potential. 

Ms Costa Scheepers proposed for fast tracking of regional trade agreements, and empower associations to coordinate exports and invest in agro-processing zones to support local value addition. 

She said the continued grain imports during bumper harvest seasons destabilised the local farmers market. Millers and traders, she noted, exploited the vacuum, manipulating prices and eroding farmers’ confidence in formal system. ENDS