25 Feb 2026

The Ministry of Lands and Agriculture has adopted robust and multi-faceted strategies aimed at achieving food security and self-sustainability, Parliament heard on Tuesday. 

Responding on behalf of acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Assistant Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Mr Baratiwa Mathoothe told the Parliament that the ministry was intensifying efforts to enhance food security and reduce the country’s reliance on food imports. 

He said food security was anchored on four key pillars: food availability, access to nutritious and quality food, proper food utilisation, and consistent access at all times. 

Mr Mathoothe explained that the ministry was currently implementing programmes such as the Lemang Dijo initiative and the Horticulture Impact Accelerator Subsidy Scheme, adding that those programmes were designed to increase productivity within the arable subsector by boosting crop yields and promoting sustainable and efficient production systems. 

He said the initiatives were supported by a well-developed agricultural extension service system, which provides technical advice, facilitates farmer training and encourages technology adoption.

 He said through those programmes, farmers were cushioned with production capital and subsidised inputs and enhancing their adaptive capacity to climate change. 

He said although the subsector had not yet reached full food security stability, he noted that production had significantly improved. 

“This progress demonstrated that sustained support would steer the country towards food sufficiency and ultimately meet its food security requirements,” he said. 

He further pointed out that the ministry had also invested in infrastructure development in commercial arable farming areas such as Pandamatenga and Mosisedi as well as irrigation schemes across the country.

Meanwhile, he said to safeguard local production, import restrictions were imposed on commodities that were in excess supply locally. Mr Mathoothe said the deliberate move was intended to secure the domestic market for Botswana-produced agricultural goods.

He added that Botswana was a signatory to trade agreements, including the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), which played a pivotal role in supporting local food production by providing market certainty for domestically produced commodities. 

He further said the ministry also assisted farmers in controlling pests of economic importance such as fall armyworm, locusts and quelea birds, thereby enhancing crop yields and promoting food security. 

Furthermore, he said the ministry had introduced crop insurance initiatives to cushion farmers against the impacts of drought, floods, frost, diseases and pest outbreaks. 

Recognising research and development as critical to increasing agricultural productivity, he said government had established institutions such as the National Agricultural Research and Development Institute (NARDI). 

Member of Parliament for Selebi Phikwe East, Mr Kgoberego Nkawana had asked the minister to outline steps being taken to promote food security and reduce reliance on imports, including support for local farmers and agricultural development. BOPA