Last week, Minister of Lands and Agriculture Dr Edwin Dikoloti revealed that some farmers were already delivering ‘excellent’ results under the scheme which is capped at one hectare and targets resource-poor, micro-scale Batswana. Top performers under the Lemang Dijo are set to receive additional hectare per farmer as the government seeks to encourage higher productivity and strengthen domestic grain production. The decision follows encouraging results recorded in some areas, with 32 farmers at Mokatako achieving an average yield of 1.8 tonnes per hectare, while the two top performing farmers recorded yields of 4.5 tonnes per hectare. Dikoloti noted the results have highlighted the potential for targeted agricultural support to improve productivity and contribute to Botswana’s food security ambitions.“In the Mokatako area, we have 32 farmers who achieved an average yield of 1.8 tonnes per hectare, with our top two performers reaching an incredible 4.5 tonnes per hectare,” he said at annual National Agricultural Show on Thursday. “Imagine if we scale this model to 50,000 farmers nationwide. At three tonnes per hectare, we generate 150,000 tonnes of grain. At 4.5 tonnes, that figure climbs to 225,000 tonnes. This is a game-changer that will drastically reduce our food import bill and feed our nation.” To sustain the impact of the programme, the minister added that the government would reward top-performing farmers by doubling their land allocation to two hectares this season. Lemang Dijo, the newly revised arable sector subsidy scheme, is a targeted agricultural support initiative designed to strengthen household food security, improve productivity and support resource-poor farmers across Botswana.Farmers receive targeted support covering tillage, pesticides, seeds and soil testing while the Lemang Dijo Grant provides a 100% subsidy for tillage services and pesticides for up to one hectare. Under the revised model, the government will provide farmers with an e-voucher valued at P4,400 for tillage services and pesticides for up to one hectare. Lemang Dijo forms part of the government’s broader efforts to increase domestic food production and reduce the country’s reliance on grain imports.It has been positioned as a key vehicle for advancing national food security while encouraging farmers to adopt more productive and commercially oriented farming practices. The decision to reward higher-performing farmers also signals an effort to incentivise productivity by creating opportunities for farmers who demonstrate the ability to achieve stronger yields. In his speech, Dikoloti also highlighted opportunities for private-sector participation in clustered farming initiatives. The minister encouraged more businesses and investors to support clustered agricultural initiatives through investment, technology transfer and market opportunities.He said at the Gulugwe cluster at Mosetse, farmers working with Phoenix of Botswana reportedly achieved yields of four tonnes per hectare, demonstrating the potential of collaboration between farmers and private-sector partners. Lemang Dijo forms part of a broader agricultural transformation agenda under the New Agriculture Policy, which seeks to transition farmers from subsistence production towards commercially viable agribusinesses. The policy also places greater emphasis on climate resilience, modern technology, productive land use and stronger agricultural value chains as Botswana seeks to increase domestic food production and build a more resilient agricultural sector.
