Botswana moves to strengthen agricultural data integration
PAULINE DIKUELO | Thursday September 3, 2026 09:42
The assessment, being conducted through a four-day national workshop in Gaborone, forms part of wider regional efforts to establish an integrated Agricultural Information Management System (AIMS) across Southern Africa. The initiative is expected to enhance the sharing of agricultural information among member states, improve early warning systems and support coordinated responses to food security challenges.
Convened by the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture (MoLA) in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat and the European Union (EU), the workshop is evaluating Botswana's existing agricultural information systems and their readiness for integration into the regional framework.
While Botswana has made considerable investments in digital agricultural technologies over the years, officials say the next phase of development will require greater interoperability among existing systems, improved data harmonisation and stronger institutional collaboration to ensure information is effectively utilised for decision-making at both national and regional levels.
The workshop is supported through the European Union-funded Support Towards the Operationalization of the SADC Regional Agricultural Policy (STOSAR II) Project and has brought together government institutions, technical experts, system administrators, statistics specialists and regional partners.
Opening the workshop, FAO Assistant Representative and Head of Programs, Lesedi Modo-Mmopelwa, commended Botswana's progress in digitising agricultural services, citing systems such as the Botswana Animal Information and Traceability System (BAITS), agricultural production databases, veterinary information systems and other digital platforms that have strengthened data collection and service delivery across the sector.
However, she noted that many of these systems continue to operate independently, limiting the seamless exchange of information between institutions and preventing the country from fully harnessing the value of agricultural data.'The challenge before us is therefore not simply the existence of data, but our ability to connect systems, harmonise information and transform data into actionable knowledge,' she said.
Modo-Mmopelwa explained that, with support from the European Union under the STOSAR II Project, FAO and the SADC Secretariat are assisting member states in strengthening Agricultural Information Management Systems and establishing stronger links between national and regional information platforms. She said the vision of the SADC AIMS is to create an integrated regional information ecosystem that enables member states to share agricultural information efficiently, strengthen food security monitoring, improve early warning systems, support agricultural trade and facilitate evidence-based policy development.
According to Modo-Mmopelwa, achieving this vision requires more than technology. It demands collaboration, common standards, strong institutions and a shared commitment to data quality and interoperability.
As part of the assessment, participants are examining key national systems, including the Botswana Animal Information and Traceability System (BAITS), crop management systems, geographic information systems and agricultural statistics platforms. The workshop is also assessing infrastructure readiness, interoperability, data standards, governance arrangements and technical capacity required to support seamless integration with the regional platform. Participants are expected to undertake live demonstrations and practical exercises to test the compatibility of Botswana's agricultural data with regional reporting requirements and identify opportunities for improvement.
For his part, Ministry of Lands and Agriculture Permanent Secretary Dr Mokganedi Mokopasetso said Botswana has made significant investments in information systems across the agricultural sector, although many were developed independently to address specific institutional needs. As a result, he said opportunities remain to strengthen cooperation, improve information sharing, reduce duplication and maximise the value of collected data.
Mokopasetso noted that integrating Botswana's systems into the SADC Agricultural Information Management System represents an important step towards strengthening evidence-based decision-making, improving regional data harmonisation, enhancing food security monitoring and supporting agricultural trade and market intelligence across Southern Africa. He added that the initiative aligns with Botswana's broader digital transformation agenda and its commitment to modernising public service delivery through innovative and integrated technologies.
The initiative also contributes to the implementation of the SADC Regional Agricultural Policy and supports regional efforts to strengthen agricultural data management, improve information sharing and promote evidence-based agricultural development across Southern Africa.