LEA pushes horticulture export drive
Laone Choeunyane | Wednesday February 25, 2026 06:00
In his keynote address, LEA Caretaker Chief Executive Officer Thato Jensen linked the workshop to Botswana’s broader economic diversification drive, noting that agriculture and agro-processing are increasingly viewed as strategic engines of export growth and job creation.
“Our objective is simple,” Jensen told participants, “to move our farmers beyond production and into sustainable participation in regional and global markets”.
Despite its promise, Botswana’s horticulture sector continues to face structural constraints. Jensen highlighted low productivity, post-harvest losses, water scarcity, limited access to affordable finance and slow adoption of modern technologies. He cautioned that export readiness “requires far more than good farming,” pointing to the need for standards compliance, certification, logistics efficiency, working capital, and market intelligence.
The urgency of reform is reflected in trade data. Botswana’s horticulture imports rose from approximately P475 million in 2012 to P1.2 billion in 2021, a 152% increase. Although import restriction measures reduced the bill for selected vegetables from P375.5 million in 2021 to P176.9 million in 2022, exports remain modest at around P2.75 million, largely confined to niche botanical categories. The imbalance highlights both strong domestic demand and significant untapped export potential.
Global market insights presented during the workshop reinforced that opportunity. The global fresh fruits and vegetables market was valued at $854.42 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $1.27 trillion by 2033, growing at a compound annual rate of 4.6 percent Sub-Saharan Africa’s horticulture exports are projected to reach $20.5 billion in 2025 amidst steady continental growth.
The Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) highlighted immediate regional opportunities within SADC growth corridors, particularly South Africa and Namibia, as well as higher-return international markets such as the European Union and the Middle East for counter-seasonal citrus, baby vegetables and speciality herbs. Preferential trade frameworks, including the SADC–EU Economic Partnership Agreement, were cited as enabling mechanisms for competitive exporters.
Risk management formed a critical part of the discussions. Botswana Insurance Company representative William Surmon explained that exporting horticultural produce exposes farmers to layered risks, from price volatility and international competition to cold-chain breakdowns, compliance failures, and delayed payments. Agricultural insurance, he said, helps stabilise income and protect production investments against unforeseen losses.
A closing finance panel featuring CEDA, NDB, and ABSA outlined funding pathways to support certification, scaling, and export expansion, reinforcing the importance of coordinated institutional support.
Concluding his keynote address, Jensen reaffirmed that “if we build competitive SMMEs, responsive institutions, and deepen collaboration across the ecosystem, the horticulture sector can become a powerful engine of growth”.
The workshop later wrapped up with renewed calls for stronger collaboration under the theme 'Homegrown Produce, Global Reach', as stakeholders committed to aligning research, finance, compliance support and market linkages to position Botswana’s horticulture sector for inclusive growth and export-led resilience.