Agricultural production, its challenges and state intervention in Botswana
A historical perspective
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22112150 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Given Matopote (0009-0006-2746-7067, Hiroshima University), N P Joshi (0000-0002-9324-8165, Hiroshima University, corresponding author), Boga Thura Manatsha (0000-0001-5573-7796, University of Botswana) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication date | 2025-12-31 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Cogent Social Sciences (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2331-1886 • E-ISSN: 2331-1886 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/23311886.2025.2480726 |
| OpenAlex | W4408739885 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 44 |
Botswana, a Global South country, used to have a thriving agricultural sector that contributed the largest share to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at independence in 1966. However, its contribution has fallen sharply to about 2%. This has been attributed to a range of factors, paramount being the discovery and exploitation of diamonds in the post-independence era. Nonetheless, efforts have been made to revive the agricultural sector through various state-supported initiatives. This article uses secondary data to assess production trends of major agricultural products. It also qualitatively analyzes challenges and state intervention in the sector. Beef cattle production is the sector’s backbone, contributing 80% to the agricultural GDP. Despite the government’s plans and programs implemented in different periods, the production of main agricultural products, namely maize, sorghum, millet, and cattle, are dwindling along with the high interannual variation. This has serious implications for national food sovereignty. Botswana’s dependency on food imports is ever-increasing. However, vegetable production is an exception. It is receiving more attention from farmers and its production is consistently increasing. Similar is the case for goats. Low rainfall, drought, and livestock diseases are some of the factors threatening agriculture the most
Agricultural economics · Agricultural productivity · Agriculture · Development economics · Economic growth · Economics · Geography · Political science · African studies and sociopolitical issues · Agricultural Innovations and Practices · Computer Science · Land Rights and Reforms · Psychology
The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020
The Early Iron Age of Botswana
Ethno-veterinary practices amongst livestock farmers in Ngamiland district, Botswana
Globalisation and the Livestock Industry in Botswana
South Africa's City of Diamonds
Water Resource Management in Botswana
Rainfall and Agricultural Production in Botswana
The State and its Failure to Transform African Crop Production in Botswana, 1930–1939
The Political Economy of Botswana
The State, Crop Production and Differentiation in Botswana, 1947-1966
Cattle, class and the state in rural Botswana
Coping with Drought in Botswana
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |