A P1bn food security hole

Friday, May 15, 2026 | 130 Views |

Golden fields: The country has pursued food self-sufficiency as a long-running priority

Despite private and government support over the decades as well as a standing commitment by maize and wheat millers to buy every single grain produced, output from local farmers remains low. MBONGENI MGUNI looks at the “whys” behind the P1 billion per annum opportunity

Local millers estimate that the country is giving away at least one billion Pula to South Africa annually in terms of importing maize and wheat that could be produced in the country.

Statistics Botswana figures are even more sombre. Imports of cereals, a term referring to raw maize, wheat, sorghum and rice, reached P2.4 billion last year, with nearly all of these grains originating from South Africa, the regional breadbasket.

Already have an active account? Log in here.

Or Sign up and get unlimited access to premium articles.

food security

Botswana's First Lady Boko. PIC MORERI SEJAKGOMO

African First Ladies unite against stigma

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | 16 h ago

Bolele bids media partners farewell

staff writer | 17 h ago

Sponsors’ support propels Botswana’s continental education showcase to success

Kingsley Kuda | 17 h ago

Mogoditshane’s 420 squatters on eviction notice

Innocent Selatlhwa | 26 Jun 2026

FIA flags P481M suspicious transactions

Pauline Dikuelo | 26 Jun 2026

DCEC set for major transformation

Pauline Dikuelo | 26 Jun 2026

Investors’ legal wrangle for Euro 500M

Innocent Selatlhwa | 26 Jun 2026

BHC faces court battle over top executive dismissals

Mpho Mokwape | 26 Jun 2026

Let the courts follow the money

“Law and order are the medicine of the body politic and when the body politic gets sick, medicine must be administered.”– B.R. AmbedkarThe amount of money at play threatens to test the integrity of the country’s financial system, giving more reason to why the courts must be fully given leeway to lean on the matter and reach a conclusion.Botswana has spent decades building her reputation as a stable and credible financial jurisdiction.The...

Mmegi Editor | 26 June 2026

About us

Mmegi is the leading independent source of breaking news, latest news, current
affairs, Politics, Business, Sport, debates, analysis, and entertainment news in Botswana.