The government has announced a comprehensive strategy to transform the agricultural sector, aiming to enhance food security, optimize land use, and drive high-value agricultural production. This bold initiative was detailed in the 2025 Budget Speech, where the Minister of Finance outlined the government’s commitment to modernizing agriculture and fostering domestic and export competitiveness.

A key component of this strategy is the revamping of the agricultural subsidy system. The government plans to shift from supporting inputs to incentivizing higher output and productivity. This new approach will be complemented by the development of a comprehensive Agriculture Financing Strategy, designed to improve access to capital for farmers and agribusinesses.

In addition, the government aims to establish a robust seed production industry to reduce reliance on imports and develop an organic fertilizer industry to cut dependency on costly imported fertilizers. Diversification of agricultural production will also be pursued by tapping into high-potential sub-sectors, including hemp production.

Botswana’s expertise in cattle breeding will be leveraged to enhance beef production, while the growth of the dairy farming sector will be accelerated. The government also plans to establish a local Commodity Trading Platform to ensure fair pricing for agricultural produce. Small-scale farmers will benefit from improved access to supply contracts with large retail chains, addressing long-standing barriers to market entry.

To support these initiatives, the 1991 National Policy on Agriculture Development will be revised to align with the new strategic direction. The government says it recognizes the vital role of cooperatives in agricultural transformation, job creation, rural development, and poverty reduction. As such, efforts will be made to revamp the institutional and legal framework supporting cooperatives to build self-reliant entities.