Botswana’s Economic Transformation Programme (BETP) and the Role of Agriculture-Based Clusters
President of the Republic of Botswana Advocate G. Boko
Introduction
Botswana’s Economic Transformation Programme (BETP), launched under the leadership of President Duma Boko, represents a bold and historic shift aimed at reducing the country’s reliance on diamonds and repositioning its economy for inclusive, sustainable growth. Central to this agenda is economic diversification — driven by boosting services, attracting foreign investment, and building a globally competitive framework underpinned by the nation’s long-standing political stability.
A critical pillar of the BETP is agriculture. The vision is to move agriculture from subsistence production into a modern, commercialized, and export-driven industry that contributes significantly to national GDP, enhances food security, and creates lasting employment opportunities for Botswana’s people, especially women and youth.
Agriculture’s Role in Botswana’s Economy
At independence in 1966, agriculture contributed 42.7% of Botswana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Full article: Agricultural production, its challenges and state intervention in Botswana: a historical perspective https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23311886.2025.2480726?utm_ . Today, that figure has fallen to below 2%, a sharp decline brought about by the growth of mining and services, coupled with structural challenges such as arid climate conditions, poor soils, and low levels of technological adoption.
Yet despite this decline in GDP contribution, agriculture remains vital to Botswana’s rural economy. Nearly 70% of the rural population depends on farming for livelihoods, with livestock — particularly cattle — accounting for more than 80% of agricultural income. This indicates that while agriculture’s statistical contribution to GDP may be low, its social and economic footprint remains enormous.
Future Expectations Under the BETP
The BETP envisions more than incremental growth for agriculture. Its goal is nothing less than structural transformation — transitioning from subsistence farming to a modernized, commercially viable, and export-oriented sector. Through strategic investment, advanced technologies, and sustainable practices, agriculture will evolve into an engine of inclusive growth.
While specific targets for agriculture’s GDP share have not yet been fixed, the underlying aim is clear: to reposition agriculture as a driver of Botswana’s long-term resilience. In doing so, agriculture will create jobs, enhance rural prosperity, strengthen food sovereignty, and contribute to the overarching goal of reducing national dependence on diamonds.
Agriculture in Africa: Lessons and Opportunities
Botswana’s situation reflects wider continental realities. Across Africa, agriculture contributes an average of 15% to GDP, though the range is wide: less than 3% in Botswana and South Africa, but over 50% in nations such as Chad. The sector is the backbone of African economies, yet remains hampered by low productivity, high import dependency, and underdeveloped value chains.
The Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) seeks to address these challenges, emphasizing modernization, food security, and poverty reduction. Botswana’s BETP is a natural alignment with CAADP, and presents a platform for the country to position itself as a model of agricultural transformation within SADC and across the continent.
Farmer’s Pride International and the RUAIPP Model
Farmer’s Pride International (FPI) is honored to be participating in the Botswana’s Economic Transformation Programme (BETP) through its Rural and Urban Agriculture Innovative Production Program (RUAIPP), a major initiative designed to transform Africa’s agricultural landscape. At the heart of this program lies the Agriculture-Based Cluster (ABC) model — an approach that organizes farmers, processors, financiers, and suppliers into coordinated value chains within defined geographical clusters.
The Cluster Model in Practice
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The Core Concept – ABCs: Farmers are grouped into clusters, allowing them to pool resources, access training, and leverage economies of scale.
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The Hub-and-Spoke System:
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Hub Farm: A central, larger farm that provides training, inputs, technology, and processing infrastructure.
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Satellite Farms: Smaller farms surrounding the hub, operating within its network, ensuring uniform quality and benefiting from shared services.
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Key Activities:
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Farming high-value crops (potatoes, wheat, rice, soybeans, horticulture).
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Value addition and agro-processing for domestic and export markets.
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Training in crop production, animal husbandry, financial literacy, and farm management.
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Networking groups of 6–20 farmers to strengthen collaboration and build resilience.
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Policy advocacy to unlock financing, trade, and cross-border opportunities.
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This framework directly supports the BETP’s objectives of inclusivity, diversification, and empowerment.
A New Strategy: Moringa as the Financial Anchor Crop
To strengthen and accelerate the RUAIPP’s implementation, Farmer’s Pride International is introducing an innovative strategy: positioning Moringa Oleifera as the anchor crop.
1. The Challenge – Financing Transformation
Transitioning from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture requires upfront investment — high-value seeds, irrigation systems, training, and equipment. Sole reliance on government grants or donor aid risks unsustainability and delay. Botswana needs a self-financing mechanism.
2. The Solution – Moringa, the “Miracle Tree”
Moringa thrives in Botswana’s arid conditions, grows rapidly, and yields multiple high-value products (powder, seeds, and oil). It is a climate-resilient, nutrition-rich, and export-ready crop. With minimal “soft” investment from government and private stakeholders, moringa provides an immediate and continuous revenue stream to fund wider agricultural activities.
3. The Financial Mechanism – Circular Sustainability
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Revenue Generation: The central hub farm specializes in moringa cultivation and processing.
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Reinvestment: Income from moringa is reinvested to subsidize satellite farms, purchase additional seeds, finance training, and cover shared equipment.
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Expansion: As profits grow, clusters expand, more farmers are integrated, and the program scales nationally.
4. The Clustering Model – Powered by Moringa
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Hub Farm: A moringa-focused training and processing facility, serving as both the financial engine and the knowledge center.
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Satellite Farms: Initially cultivate moringa to gain skills and income, later diversifying into potatoes, wheat, rice, and horticulture — all supported by revenue from the hub.
Conclusion: Building Botswana’s Agricultural Legacy
By aligning the BETP, RUAIPP, and the Moringa-powered ABC model, Botswana can achieve a true economic transformation. Agriculture can grow from its current 2% contribution to become a pillar of national GDP, restoring its role as the bedrock of rural livelihoods, while creating jobs, empowering women and youth, and contributing to the President’s vision of inclusive national prosperity.
This strategy ensures that agriculture is no longer dependent on external grants, but becomes a self-sustaining engine of growth — capable of positioning Botswana as a leader in smart, climate-resilient agriculture across Africa.
Contact Information
Hunter – Executive President
Hunter’s Global Network PTY LTD & Farmer’s Pride International
Plot: 12996, Mine Houses, Monarch, Francistown, Botswana
E-mails:
Farmer’s Pride Linktree:
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