GABORONE, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Botswana's Vice President and Minister of Finance Ndaba Gaolathe emphasized on Thursday the need for greater investment in the southern African country's agricultural sector to reposition it as a central driver of economic diversification.
Speaking at the Botswana Agriculture Business and Investment Forum held from Thursday to Friday in Tlokweng on the outskirts of Gaborone, the country's capital, Gaolathe said that expanding agricultural production is critical to reducing the national import bill and increasing export earnings through value-added products.
He identified meat processing, crop production, and nutraceuticals as priority areas for developing competitive, export-ready products, while calling for investment in seed production, food processing, feed manufacturing, fruit tree plantations, controlled-environment agriculture, and freshwater fisheries.
The Botswanan government has set a target to increase agriculture's contribution to gross domestic product from 2 percent to 6 percent as part of broader efforts to diversify the economy to reduce long-standing dependence on diamonds.
Acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture Edwin Dikoloti said the forum serves as a platform to mobilize investment, strengthen partnerships, and translate policy into bankable projects that will transform Botswana's agri-food sector.
Carla Mucavi, representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Botswana, said that through global initiatives like "One Country One Priority Product," the FAO aims to assist Botswana in building competitive and sustainable value chains.
"These efforts will enable the country to access regional and international markets while creating jobs and increasing incomes locally," Mucavi said.
Keletsositse Olebile, chief executive officer of the Botswana Investment and Trade Center, noted that compliance with international export standards continues to constrain market access for local producers. He said greater support is needed to equip farmers with the technical knowledge, certification capacity, and production standards required to compete globally.
Held under the theme "Catalyzing Investments in Agri-Food Systems for Inclusive Growth and Food Sovereignty," the forum brought together over 400 participants, including investors, farmers, policymakers, producers, and financiers.
