Under the deal, a P200 million Matopinion Farming (Pty) Ltd agricultural investment will be established, which is expected to create 183 direct jobs, while spearheading one of the largest irrigated fodder production projects in the country. The venture, facilitated by the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC), brings together local farmers and international expertise to support large-scale fodder production. In the process, it will reduce dependence on imported animal feed, and advance the objectives of Botswana’s National Fodder Production Strategy 2026–2035. BITC CEO, Olebile Keletsositse, described the project as a high-impact investment with the potential to transform agriculture in the North East District and generate benefits across the broader economy. He noted that the investment promotion agency had supported the investment opportunity from its early stages and was encouraged to see it evolve into a commercially viable project capable of delivering long-term economic and social benefits. According to Keletsositse, the project exemplifies the type of transformative investments that Botswana seeks to attract as it works to diversify the economy and unlock growth opportunities within the agricultural sector. “This investment comes at a particularly important time as Botswana begins implementing the National Fodder Production Strategy 2026-2035,” he said at the signing ceremony.
“The strategy provides a clear roadmap for addressing the country’s fodder deficit, improving livestock productivity, strengthening climate resilience, and enhancing the competitiveness of Botswana’s livestock industry.” The Matopi Commercial Farmers Association project has been identified as a flagship initiative under the strategy because of its scale and anticipated impact. Through large-scale irrigated fodder production, modern agricultural technologies, and reliable feed supply systems, the project is expected to become a model for commercial fodder farming and agricultural value-chain development in Botswana. Beyond supporting participating farmers, the venture is expected to strengthen the livestock sector, reduce reliance on imported feed, improve national food and feed security, and create opportunities for agricultural exports. For the association, the signing marks the culmination of nearly a decade of planning, perseverance, and strategic vision. Chairperson Sakhile Hlope traced the project’s origins to 2016-17 period, when farmers established the Matopi Commercial Farmers Cluster, a 2,600-hectare agricultural estate envisioned as a hub for commercial agricultural production in the North East District.
