Adaptation of Botswana's Development Strategy to Meet Its Peoples' Needs for Land, Jobs

The history of Botswana's economy reflects the development of an open, multi-party democracy through which group, class and regional conflicts have been resolved. Four socioeconomic problems have been emerging in ways which challenge this process and thereby threaten the bases for Botswana's material progress and social and economic stability. The problems involve a growing income and asset ownership gap among Batswana, an expanding demand for scarce water, a decreasing output of cereal crops, and a growing economic dependence on the Republic of South Africa. In response to the problems, matters of which the governing class is clearly cognizant, these key development policy measures have been undertaken: the Arable Lands Development Program; the Tribal Grazing Lands Policy; and the Financial Assistance Program. The measures' contents are designed to expand rural, agricultural employment and generate rural incomes, expand cereal crop production, lessen food dependency on South Africa, and improve water management. However, the measures need to be modified to insure the maximum developmental impact

Agricultural economics · Agriculture · Arable land · Business · Development economics · Economic growth · Economics · Geography · Natural resource economics · African history and culture studies · Land Rights and Reforms

• Where is the life in farming?’

  Open Access•Chasca Twyman, Deborah Sporton et al.•Geoforum•2003

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