A deep Analysis of the Opening of Borders to Banned Crops in Botswana: My Balanced Perspective

Readers, please note that the views expressed in this post are my personal views and those of Hunter's Global Network, FPI and its subsidiaries and are not influenced by any grouping outside the listed group. 

Introduction:

I was privileged to participate in the farmers' gathering in Palapye on the 22nd of December 2024. Still, being a foreigner amongst hundreds of locals I hesitated to air my views. My name is Hunter I am the Executive President and Founder of Farmer's Pride International, coming from a strong international agriculture background, trained in several countries including Zimbabwe and China, running an agriculture company in 41 African countries and having a research and development office in the USA being led by my business partner, Vice President and CEO of FPI, a seasoned economist. I have thought of penning my views here. 

The gathering in Palapye sets out as a critical platform for agricultural dialogue, organized under the stewardship of the Government of Botswana, represented by the Deputy Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr. Edwin Dikoloti. This event, though marked by modest attendance, underscored the intricate dynamics shaping agricultural engagement within Botswana.

The Timing Of The Event: 

The timing of the gathering was both strategic and challenging. Falling within the festive season—a period synonymous with heightened farming activities due to the onset of rains—it clashed with the peak ploughing period for many farmers. This timing limited participation, as many smallholder farmers prioritized their on-field responsibilities over attendance at such gatherings. Furthermore, transportation constraints, a recurring barrier for rural farming communities, hindered broader representation. These challenges highlight systemic issues that need addressing to maximize farmer engagement in future forums.

Despite these hurdles, the gathering achieved its core objective: fostering a collaborative environment for stakeholders to exchange insights and deliberate on the trajectory of agriculture in Botswana. It provided a much-needed opportunity to align policies, share innovative practices, and address the pressing needs of the agricultural sector.

To us as FPI, the presence of Dr. Edwin Dikoloti, representing the government, lent the event significant gravitas, symbolizing a governmental commitment to supporting farmers and addressing the challenges they face. His engagement emphasized the importance of agriculture as a cornerstone of Botswana's economic and social development.

Such gatherings are essential for bridging gaps between policymakers, smallholder farmers, and other stakeholders. They enable the identification of critical areas requiring intervention, such as improving access to reliable transportation for farmers, optimizing timing for stakeholder events, and enhancing communication strategies to ensure maximum participation.

Recommendations for Future Gatherings:

Looking ahead, this event serves as a reminder of the need to strengthen support systems for farmers, particularly during critical agricultural periods. By addressing the challenges that limited participation, future gatherings can become more inclusive and impactful, ensuring that the voices of all farmers—especially those in remote areas—are heard and their needs prioritized in the national agricultural agenda.

Opening of Borders to Banned Crops in Botswana:

The decision to open Botswana’s borders to previously banned crops marks a pivotal moment for the nation’s agricultural sector. The move to lift the ban on vegetables previously banned for import into Botswana was recently announced by the new Government of Botswana. On Sunday the 22nd of December 2024 Several farmers including officials from Farmer's Pride International from Botswana's several farming districts gathered in Palapye, the central district of Botswana, and were honoured by the presence of the Deputy Minister of Lands and Agriculture. 

This policy shift reflects the new government’s commitment to revamping agricultural practices, enhancing food security, and boosting economic growth. While this decision brings immediate challenges, it also opens up significant opportunities for long-term transformation and prosperity across the agricultural spectrum, from smallholder farmers to large-scale commercial producers. As we move forward, the Government of Botswana should look at ways to work with development partners to build capacity for its farming communities to be able to participate in value addition and export of their crops. Promote research and development ahead of any decision to do with agriculture. 

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SMART Objectives

• Specific: Promote diversification and competitiveness within Botswana's agricultural sector by enabling access to high-demand banned crops.
• Measurable: Achieve a 30% increase in agricultural productivity and market share within three years.
• Achievable: Provide training, resources, and market access to farmers to meet international standards.
• Relevant: Support Botswana’s agricultural modernization and economic diversification strategy.
• Time-bound: Realize significant farmer income growth and market integration by 2027.

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Challenges and Opportunities

Immediate Challenges

1. Market Competition:
• The influx of imported crops may initially displace locally produced goods, reducing the market share of Botswana’s farmers.
• Smallholder farmers, in particular, faces increased vulnerability due to limited resources and market access.
2. Financial Strain:
• Price competition could drive down local crop prices, affecting farm profitability.
• Adjustments to new market dynamics may require capital investment in production efficiency and quality improvements, creating short-term financial pressure on farmers.

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Opportunities for Transformation

1. Diversification of Crops:
• Opening borders allows farmers to expand into previously unavailable crop markets, increasing income streams.
• Encourages local producers to cultivate high-demand, non-traditional crops that can boost export potential.
2. Innovation and Sustainability:
• Exposure to international competition will incentivize farmers to adopt modern, efficient, and sustainable agricultural practices.
• This shift can drive the adoption of agroecology, regenerative agriculture, and innovative technologies, ensuring long-term environmental and economic resilience.
3. Market Expansion and Collaboration:
• Farmers will gain access to new consumer markets, including regional and international buyers.
• Enhanced collaboration among stakeholders, including farmer cooperatives, government agencies, and private enterprises, will strengthen market positioning and collective bargaining power.

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Pathways to Success

1. Capacity Building and Training:
• Equip farmers with the skills and knowledge to adopt sustainable practices and produce competitive and high-quality crops.
• Introduce workshops, demonstration plots, and exchange programs to facilitate knowledge-sharing and innovation.
2. Policy Support and Incentives:
• Strengthen government support through subsidies, grants, and tax incentives for smallholder and commercial farmers.
• Advocate for policies that protect local producers while ensuring fair competition and market integration.
3. Investment in Infrastructure:
• Enhance agricultural infrastructure, such as storage and processing facilities, and transportation networks, to reduce post-harvest losses and improve market access.
4. Financial Inclusion:
• Facilitate access to affordable credit and financial services for farmers transitioning to new crops and modern practices.
• Establish public-private partnerships to finance agricultural development projects.

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Expected Outcomes

1. Economic Growth:
• Boost agricultural GDP by 20% within five years through diversified crop production and export growth.
• Create over 10,000 new jobs in agriculture and agribusiness, including youth and women-led enterprises.
2. Increased Farmer Incomes:
• Raise farmer incomes by 30% through better market access, higher-value crops, and reduced production costs.
3. Sustainability:
• Reduce environmental degradation by promoting sustainable and regenerative farming practices.
• Strengthen resilience to climate change impacts through innovative agricultural technologies.

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Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)

1. Monitoring:
• Regularly track key performance indicators, including crop yields, farmer incomes, and market prices.
• Conduct monthly field assessments to evaluate the adoption of sustainable practices.
2. Evaluation:
• Perform biannual evaluation to assess the social, economic, and environmental impact of the policy change.
• Gather farmer feedback to refine and improve strategies.
3. Accountability:
• Publish transparent progress reports to stakeholders, including government agencies, donors, and farming communities.
• Engage third-party auditors to verify results and ensure compliance with project goals.
4. Learning:
• Use the lessons learned to improve agricultural strategies, policy frameworks, and farmer support programs.
• Share best practices through workshops, conferences, and digital platforms.

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Agriculture as a Business: A Strategic Shift:

The agricultural sector is not just a means of sustenance; it is a business and a cornerstone of economic transformation. Across the globe, countries have demonstrated that empowering farming communities through strategic programs can elevate agriculture from subsistence to a profitable enterprise. Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), has been a vocal advocate for repositioning agriculture as a business. Speaking at various global platforms, he stated, “Africa must treat agriculture as a business. Wealth is not created in the soil; it is created by adding value to what comes out of the soil.” This vision underscores the need for a holistic approach that includes training, value addition, and access to export markets.

Supporting Farming Communities: A Business-Oriented and Inclusive Approach

Agriculture, when treated as a business, goes beyond crop production. It integrates value addition, market access, and export readiness. The future of farming lies in its ability to transform lives by creating wealth across the value chain—from the soil to the global marketplace. This paradigm shift requires governments, development organizations, and private entities to focus on enabling frameworks that transform farmers into entrepreneurs.

Dr. Adesina's emphasis on value addition resonates with Botswana’s emerging agricultural landscape. He once said, "The food and agribusiness sector is the next oil for Africa. To transform, we need to move away from exporting raw commodities to processed and value-added products. That’s where the wealth is." This principle is at the heart of several initiatives, including the work being spearheaded by Farmer's Pride International (FPI).

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The Role of Farmer's Pride International in Botswana

Farmer's Pride International (FPI) exemplifies the business-oriented approach to agriculture. Operating in Botswana, FPI has empowered farming communities by combining training, capacity-building, and access to markets, making agriculture both viable and sustainable.

Potato Production: A Success Story

FPI recently completed training for 7,000 potato growers across Botswana, transforming a once-overlooked crop into a lucrative business opportunity. Through advanced training programs, farmers learned modern farming techniques, efficient input use, and post-harvest management, which led to significant yield improvements and increased incomes.

Moringa Cultivation: A Gateway to Export Markets

Building on the success of the potato initiative, FPI is now spearheading a moringa cultivation program. This initiative involves training farmer groups to cultivate moringa for export to Germany, with the first shipment planned within six months. Moringa, often called a "miracle tree," has high global demand due to its nutritional and medicinal properties. By focusing on this high-value crop, FPI is positioning Botswana’s farmers on the global agricultural stage.

Export Readiness and Value Addition

FPI’s approach integrates export market preparation and value addition. Farmers are trained not only in cultivation but also in processing, packaging, and meeting international standards. This holistic model ensures that Botswana’s agricultural products are competitive on the world stage, creating a sustainable pathway to economic growth.

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Recommendations for Botswana’s Agricultural Development

1. Agriculture as a Business

• Treating farming as a profit-driven enterprise by investing in high-value crops and modern farming techniques.
• Promote cooperatives and farmer organizations to enable collective bargaining and economies of scale.
• Develop agro-processing industries to add value to raw agricultural products, creating jobs and increase export revenues.

2. Infrastructure Development

• Improve rural roads, storage facilities and irrigation systems to reduce post-harvest losses and improve market access.
• Establish export hubs that provide logistical support, quality assurance, and market linkages.

3. Financial Inclusion and Capacity Building

• Provide low-interest loans and grants to farmers to invest in equipment, inputs, and technology.
• Expand training programs to include financial literacy, agribusiness management, and digital farming solutions.

4. Export and Market Access

• Establish partnerships with international buyers to secure markets for high-value crops.
• Focus on meeting international quality standards to increase competitiveness in global markets.

5. Climate Resilience

• Promote climate-smart agriculture to mitigate the impact of climate change and enhance sustainability.
• Encourage crop diversification to reduce dependency on a narrow range of crops and markets.

Establishing Subsector-Specific Clusters: The Key to Transforming Agriculture in Botswana

To unlock the full potential of Botswana's agricultural sector, there is a pressing need to establish subsector-specific clusters that integrate backward and forward linkages. These clusters will enable farmers—whether rural or urban, subsistence or commercial—to transition into value-added agricultural practices and participate in lucrative export markets. By focusing on clusters dedicated to high-potential subsectors such as horticulture, livestock, and agro-processing, Botswana can create an ecosystem that supports farmers from production to export readiness.

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Conclusion:

Opening borders to previously banned crops presents a critical turning point for Botswana’s agricultural sector. While challenges are inevitable, the strategic focus on capacity building, infrastructure development, and sustainable practices will empower farmers to thrive in an increasingly competitive environment. By embracing innovation, fostering collaboration, and ensuring robust policy support, Botswana’s agricultural community can achieve transformative growth, create resilient livelihoods, and contribute significantly to the nation’s economic development.

As Botswana continues to prioritize agriculture as a pillar of economic development, platforms like this gathering are instrumental in driving progress. They serve as a reminder that the path to a sustainable and prosperous agricultural sector lies in collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to overcoming challenges. By learning from this experience and implementing necessary improvements, future forums can achieve even greater success in empowering farmers and shaping the trajectory of agriculture in Botswana.

As Farmer’s Pride International, we stand ready to support this transition by bringing our expertise in Sustainable Land Management (SLM), Regenerative  Agriculture  Agroecology systems, through agriculture-based clusters (ABCs), sustainability, and market linkages to this ambitious endeavour. Together, we can secure a prosperous and sustainable future for Botswana’s agricultural sector.

Case Studies of Government Initiatives Supporting Farming Communities:

Visit our website to learn more about our work:  https://www.farmersprideinternational.org/ 

Written by Hunter

A member of the Agro-Processing Hub of Botswana (APHB)

Executive President and Founder  @

Farmer's Pride International & Hunter's Global Network