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Agri-Business Sector Botswana

The Agri-Business Sector in Botswana 2018

Alex Conradie | Botswana | 01 March 2018

The Agri-Business Sector in Botswana 2015

Alex Conradie | Botswana | 28 April 2015

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Report Coverage

The report on the Agri-Business sector in Botswana discusses horticulture and the growing of crops, government support for the sector, and other factors that influence current and future production. Profiles for five role players are provided including Langdon Organic Farms (Pty) Ltd which trades as Go Fresh! In its greenhouse operations in Gabarone and Maun, 100 tons of fresh produce is cultivated every year. Also profiled is Noka Farm (Pty) Ltd which cultivates only 60 hectares of its total farming area of 157.22 hectares.

Introduction

Although the agricultural sector contributed only 2.1% to Botswana’s GDP in 2017 according to figures published by the country’s central bank, the sector is the mainstay of the rural economy. World Bank data shows that 42% of Botswana’s population live in rural areas, while, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), around 70% of rural households depend on subsistence farming for their livelihood. The agricultural sector provided employment to 25.7% of the labour force in 2017, which equates to about 290,400 people. However, Botswana’s crop production potential is very low as a result of its semi-arid climate, low soil fertility in most areas, and low and erratic rainfall.

Strengths

• Botswana spends a relatively high share of its agricultural GDP on agricultural research.
• High levels of government support.

Weaknesses

• 46% of agricultural land is underutilised or not utilised at all.
• A lack of roads connecting farms to markets leads to increased transport costs.
• Botswana’s crop production is dominated by rain-fed subsistence farming carried out by farmers using the traditional system, which increases vulnerability to adverse weather conditions.
• Lack of marketing facilities.
• Loss of crops due to wildlife in certain areas.
• Low levels of farming skills and low productivity levels among most smallholder farmers.
• Most horticultural farmers cannot afford to invest in modern farming technology and there is a lack of cooperation between them.
• Most of Botswana’s demand for agricultural produce is met through imports, mainly from South Africa.
• Post-harvest handling facilities are inadequate, while there is a lack of facilities to process fresh fruit and vegetables.
• Production costs are hig

Opportunities

• Assistance provided through foreign aid.
• Milled grain must contain a minimum proportion of locally-grown grain.
• Occasional restrictions on the importation of certain horticultural crops.
• Provision of inputs by the government.
• The use of treated wastewater for irrigation should increase the area of land used for growing crops.
• The Zambezi Integrated Agro-Commercial Development Project ZIACDP at Pandamatenga should increase the area under commercial farming by 45,000ha.

Threats

• Drought, because crops are mainly rain-fed.
• Worsening climatic conditions, reduced soil fertility and increased desertification.

Outlook

According to the Macro Poverty Outlook report, Botswana’s agricultural sector is expected to grow by 1.8% in 2018 and by 2.0% in 2019 as a result of higher production due to improved weather conditions. The Assistant Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Kgotla Autlwetse, said in October 2017 that Botswana aims to have a commercially successful agricultural sector by 2025. This will be achieved by creating a modern and productive sector through the use of science, technology, innovation and indigenous knowledge. However, as discussed under Environmental Concerns, climate change could pose a threat to the development and future success of the country’s agricultural sector.

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The Agri-Business Sector in Botswana 2018

Full Report

R 1 900.00(ZAR) estimated $101.24 (USD)*

Industry Landscape

R 1 330.00(ZAR) estimated $ 70.87 (USD)*

Historical Reports

The Agri-Business Sector in Botswana 2015-04-28

R 1 900.00(ZAR) estimated $101.24 (USD)*

View Report Add to Cart

Table of Contents

[ Close ]
PAGE
1. INTRODUCTION 1
2. COUNTRY INFORMATION 1
2.1. Geographic Position 2
3. DESCRIPTION OF THE INDUSTRY 3
3.1. Industry Value Chain 4
4. SIZE OF THE INDUSTRY 7
5. STATE OF THE INDUSTRY 9
5.1. Local 9
5.1.1. Corporate Actions 13
5.1.2. Regulations 13
5.2. Continental 14
5.3. International 15
6. INFLUENCING FACTORS 15
6.1. Government Support 15
6.2. Environmental Concerns 19
6.3. Economic Environment 20
6.4. Foreign Aid 20
6.5. Labour 21
6.6. Technology, Research and Development (R&D) and Innovation 21
7. COMPETITION 22
7.1. Barriers to Entry 22
8. SWOT ANALYSIS 23
9. OUTLOOK 24
10. INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS 24
11. REFERENCES 25
11.1. Publications 25
11.2. Websites 25
COMPANY PROFILES 27
ADAM'S APPLE (PTY) LTD 27
BOTSWANA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LTD 28
LANGDON ORGANIC FARMS (PTY) LTD 33
NOKA FARM (PTY) LTD 36
SEED CO INTERNATIONAL LTD 38

Report Coverage

The report on the Growing of Crops and Horticulture in Botswana describes the local agricultural sector, government attempts to support and improve crop production and factors influencing the success of the sector. The report also profiles five stakeholders including state-owned enterprise, the Botswana Development Corporation Ltd (BDC) and the country’s major supplier of seeds, Seed Co International Ltd.

Introduction

This report focuses on the agricultural sector in Botswana. The contribution of agriculture to GDP in Botswana has declined drastically, from 40% at Independence in 1966 to 2.3% in 2013, mainly due to rapid growth in the mining sector. Agriculture is the mainstay of the rural economy, with 38% of the population living in rural areas, and it offers employment to 30% of Botswana’s employable population. However, owing to low crop production, food for domestic consumption has to be met by imports, and during periods of drought imports may increase to 90% of total demand.

Strengths

• High levels of government support.

Weaknesses

• An aging farming population.
• Farming is still mainly rain-fed.
• Inadequate storage capacity at BAMB.
• Inadequate use of technology.
• Limited access to low-cost labour.
• Low levels of skills among smallholder farmers.
• Production costs are high, mainly due to the fact that 99% of production inputs are imported.

Opportunities

• Development of the agro-processing sector.
• Increased availability of water for irrigation from newly-built dams.
• The implementation of a new business model by the Botswana Horticultural Market (BHM).

Threats

• Adverse climatic conditions such as low and erratic rainfall and high temperatures.
• Effects of climate change: a rise in average temperature of up to 2°C by 2015 and a decline in river flows of up to 13%.
• For subsistence farming, the continuation of government food rations.

Outlook

Analysts concur that Botswana has agricultural growth potential, which can be successfully realised if agricultural production and associated activities are undertaken on a commercial basis, thus allowing for reinvestment and expansion. The implementation of a new business model by the Botswana Horticultural Market in an effort to improve the market for horticultural farmers, as well as the development of the agro-processing sector hold particular promise. However, as discussed under Environmental Concerns, climate change could pose a threat to the success of the country’s agricultural and horticultural sectors.

Read More..
The Agri-Business Sector in Botswana 2015

Full Report

R 1 900.00(ZAR) estimated $101.24 (USD)*

Industry Landscape

R 1 330.00(ZAR) estimated $ 70.87 (USD)*

Historical Reports

The Agri-Business Sector in Botswana 2018-03-01

R 1 900.00(ZAR) estimated $101.24 (USD)*

View Report Add to Cart

Table of Contents

[ Close ]
PAGE
1. INTRODUCTION 1
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE INDUSTRY 1
2.1. Industry Value Chain 2
2.2. Geographic Position 6
3. SIZE OF THE INDUSTRY 8
4. STATE OF THE INDUSTRY 10
4.1. Local 10
4.1.1. Corporate Actions 11
4.1.2. Regulations 12
4.2. Continental 12
4.3. International 15
5. INFLUENCING FACTORS 15
5.1. Economic Environment 15
5.2. Government Support 15
5.3. Information Technology and Technology 18
5.4. Labour Resources 18
5.5. Environmental Concerns 19
6. COMPETITION 20
6.1. Barriers to Entry 20
6.2. Research and Development (R&D) and Innovation 20
7. SWOT ANALYSIS 21
8. OUTLOOK 22
9. INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS 22
10. REFERENCES 23
10.1. Publications 23
10.2. Websites 24
COMPANY PROFILES 25
ADAM'S APPLE (PTY) LTD 25
BOTSWANA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LTD 26
LANGDON ORGANIC FARMS (PTY) LTD 30
SEED CO INTERNATIONAL LTD 33