NARDI drives climate-smart agriculture
Pauline Dikuelo | Wednesday May 20, 2026 06:00
This was revealed by CEO of the research and technology organisation, Professor Julius Atlhopheng, when appearing before Parliament’s Statutory Bodies Committee last week. He told Parliamentarians that the institute is making notable progress in climate-smart agriculture, with new seed varieties expected to reach the market soon. Atlhopheng highlighted that NARDI’s research is increasingly focused on producing crops that can withstand extreme weather conditions while also improving nutritional value for consumers. “We have seeds that have grown and we will be having the first product soon,” he told the Public Accounts Committee-like hearing.
The CEO stated that beyond crop development, NARDI is also expanding its agro-processing footprint through its division, NAPRO, which has already introduced products such as the probiotic drink “Hupa” and harvest products that are currently available on the market. However, Atlhopheng acknowledged that production capacity remains constrained due to manual systems and limited agricultural output from farmers. He said they are looking at exploring partnerships with the Letsema Horticultural Market to improve supply chains and scale up production. NARDI has also trained 1,500 farmers in various agricultural innovations as part of efforts to strengthen technology transfer and improve productivity across the agricultural value chain.
The institute currently runs 56 active research and development projects funded by global partners and has invested in accredited laboratories, climate-smart technologies, intellectual property protection systems and product shelf-life testing capabilities. In 2014, NARDI announced the development of national agro-processing strategy which holds promise for revitalising Botswana's manufacturing sector and positioning the country as a key player in the global agro-processing market. The initiative will also focus on promoting sustainable practices, enhancing quality standards, and fostering innovation to ensure that local agro-processing businesses can thrive and expand.
As the strategy takes shape, it is expected to include specific measures to support Small and Medium Enterprises in the agro-processing sector, facilitating access to markets and enhancing competitiveness. Additionally, the strategy will likely emphasise capacity building and skills development to ensure that the workforce is equipped to meet the demands of a modern agro-processing industry. Established in 2015 and commercialised in July 2022, NARDI was created to drive high-quality agricultural research, innovation and commercialisation, enhance food sovereignty, nutritional analysis while increasing agriculture’s contribution to Botswana’s gross domestic product.