19 Oct 2026

Botswana’s commitment to climate resilient livelihoods is manifested through the new national agricultural policy and signature programmes such as Lemang Dijo, A di Tsale, the green climate fund-supported rangeland restoration project actively deployed across Bobirwa, Kgalagagadi and Okavango.

As a semi-arid country, Botswana is on the frontlines of climate change and is faced with recurrent droughts, water scarcity and ongoing land degradation.

It is against this backdrop that the acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Mr Motsamai Motsamai said the pressures made modernisation and sustainability of agrifood systems an urgent existential necessity.

Mr Motsamai who was speaking during the World Food Day commemoration in Moshupa on Friday said this fragility had been sharply tested by the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak that began in January 2026.

To date approximately P97 million has been re-directed toward controlling the disease. 

“The massive diversion of funds has strained the budget of the agriculture and restricted resources meant for broader agricultural production initiatives,” Mr Motsamai said.

He said the impact had rippled across the local economy, disrupting domestic and international trade, threatening household livelihoods and suppressing overall agricultural productivity.

Mr Motsamai indicated that emergency vaccination, movement restrictions, biosecurity protocols and fence construction had largely neutralised the threat.

He stated that 90 000 cattle had been vaccinated during primary vaccination in Kgatleng and clinical cases remained contained in Mochudi East, Oodi and Dikwididi extension.

Mr Motsamai said there was also encouraging news for farmers as slaughter of cattle from containment zones had commenced at Botswana Meat Commission where 1 000 cattle had been slaughtered thus far from fenced farms and quarantines.

He implored farmers to desist from selling arable land and preserve it for food production and also encouraged them to participate in basic farming courses such as ploughing and veterinary training.

The United Nations resident coordinator, Ms Wenyan Yang, said Botswana Vulnerability Assessment Committee (BVAC) 2023/2024 report, revealed that over 25 per cent of rural population remained at risk of food insecurity while the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, estimated that prevalence of undernourishment in Botswana stood at 26.6 per cent.

Ms Yang stated that scientific breakthrough and technological advances were transforming economies and societies at unprecedented pace.

She said innovation could increase agricultural productivity, strengthen resilience, expand market access improve nutrition and support sustainable natural resource management already existed.

“As we mark World Food Day, under theme: Innovate Today. Nourish Tomorrow, let us remember that the future of food security will not be determined by the innovations we invent, but the innovations we successfully deliver to those who need them the most,” said Ms Yang. ends