The Government of Botswana has set a minimum target of six per cent for the agricultural sector’s contribution to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The announcement was made by President Advocate Duma Boko while officially opening the 2025 National Agricultural Show in Gaborone on Friday.
President Boko outlined a vision to expand the country’s cattle herd to five million within three years while strengthening the broader agricultural sector. He emphasised that these targets are ambitious but necessary for sustainable economic growth and food security.
Addressing the challenges facing the sector, President Boko highlighted climate vulnerability, global economic shocks, and the lack of a comprehensive agricultural financing framework, particularly for smallholder farmers. He also cited weak extension services, slow adoption of modern technologies, inadequate infrastructure, fragmented value chains, biosecurity threats, policy and institutional weaknesses, data connectivity gaps, and demographic pressures as factors limiting growth.
The government plans to tackle these challenges through targeted interventions aimed at improving productivity, enhancing access to financing, and encouraging the adoption of modern agricultural practices. Strengthening infrastructure, value chains, and policy frameworks will form part of a coordinated effort to boost sector performance.
President Boko stressed that achieving these goals will require collaboration between government, private sector, and farmers. By addressing systemic weaknesses and investing in key areas, Botswana aims to increase agricultural output, improve livelihoods, and ensure the sector becomes a reliable driver of national economic growth.
The 2025 National Agricultural Show provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss strategies, showcase innovations, and align efforts toward achieving these national targets. The government’s focus on the sector signals a commitment to long-term agricultural development despite existing challenges.
