Agriculture Sector

Agriculture covers the cultivation of land to produce crops, vegetables and fruits, raising of animals, forestry (both natural and man-made), beekeeping and fisheries. The sector encompasses all the value chain activities involved in bringing food and fibre from farm to plate. The different subsectors include:

•           Beef

•           Small-stock (goats and sheep)

•           Dairy

•           Piggery

•           Poultry

•           Ostrich

•           Rain-fed arable agriculture (cereals, small grains, beans and pulses)

•           Horticulture

•           Beekeeping

•           Fisheries

•           Forestry

•           Agribusiness.

 

Agriculture is the main source of livelihoods for Botswana, with nearly 40 per cent of the country’s population residing in rural areas. The sector is important because of the multiple backward and forward linkages to other sectors of the economy such as input services, transport, manufacturing, advisory services, financial services and tourism. The sector’s contribution to GDP declined from 40% in 1966 to about 2 % in the current period. Most farmers in Botswana do not produce enough to meet their own subsistence needs and have no surpluses to sell. Therefore, there is need for improvement of skills to develop and expand the subsectors to encourage people to operate on a commercial basis.

The following are the names of the Committee members; 

Mr Rapula Mothala Kegopilwe- Chairperson

Mr. David Headman – Deputy Chairperson

Mr Sipho Q. Madisa

Mr. Andina Dintwa

Dr Wame Boitumelo

Mr. Mogomotsi Moatswi

Mr. Quett Makwati Rabai

Mr. Pelotshweu Kaone Mosweu

Mr. Modise Mokgwatise

Mr. Boipelo Precious Laetsang

Prof Sam Ayanlaja

Prof Khumoetsile Mmolawa

Ms Thando Siga

Ms Tumelo Mphengula

Mr Mbiganyi Taka