Mmegi

Gov’t shifts from subsidies to commercial farming

Ramping up: Government wants to move its support towards commercialising local agriculture 
PIC: PHATSIMO KAPENG
Ramping up: Government wants to move its support towards commercialising local agriculture PIC: PHATSIMO KAPENG

Botswana is embarking on a major overhaul of its agricultural sector, abandoning decades of subsidy-led interventions in favour of a commercial, market-driven farming model aimed at improving productivity, the Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Edwin Dikoloti, has said.

The shift is also aimed at boosting technology adoption and increasing agriculture's contribution to the economy.

The move comes after government acknowledged that its long-standing public sector-dominated agricultural extension system, built around heavily subsidised programmes such as SLOCA, LIMID, LIMID II, ISPAAD, Special ISPAAD, Temo Letlotlo, and Thuo Letlotlo, has failed to deliver the desired outcomes.

Editor's Comment
Gov't must guard against cadre deployment

As the Botswana National Front (BNF) discusses a policy to place suitably qualified members in strategic positions, the guiding consideration should remain whether an individual is the best person to serve the country. There is nothing wrong with qualified party members applying for public positions. Political affiliation should neither disqualify a capable candidate nor give them an advantage over others. Every Motswana deserves a fair...

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