Botswana’s horticultural sector faces several constraints that impede its growth, as actors are unable to take advantage of opportunities that are created by the market. This study used SWOT analysis to identify the main opportunities and constraints in Botswana’s horticulture sector using data collected from a farm survey, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions conducted with other key stakeholders between June and August 2023. The study found that the main constraints in the horticulture sector include expensive inputs, a lack of technical knowledge, low technology uptake, a lack of market access, high in-field and post-harvest losses, limited access to credit, limited processing, and ineffective support systems. The opportunities within the horticulture sector include unmet local demand for both fresh and processed products, productivity gaps, and supportive government policies. To develop the horticulture sector and ensure its sustainability, it is recommended that the identified constraints be addressed by actors and the government. For instance, the government should address the lack of technical skills through the provision of improved extension services, as this would address the low productivity that is brought about by both in-field and post-harvest losses. Additionally, the identified opportunities should be taken up by actors to enhance the sector’s performance and sustainability.

The Botswana horticultural value chain faces several constrains which impedes its growth as chain actors are unable to take opportunities created by the market. This study uses the SWOT anlayis to indentify the main opportunities and contraints in the Botswana horticulture value chain using data collected from a farm survey, in-indeth interviews and focus group discussions conducted with other key stakeholders between June and July 2023. The study found that the main constraints in the horticulture value chain include; expensive inputs, lack of technical knowledge, low technology uptake, lack of market access, high in-field and post- harvest losses, low access to credit, limited processing and ineffective support system. The opportunities within the value chain include unmet local demand for both fresh and processed products, productivity gap, and supportive government policies. To develop the horticulture value chain it is recommended that the identified contraints be addressed by the chain actors and government. For instance, government should address the issue of lack of technical skills through provision of improved extension services as this will address low productivity brought be both in-field and post harvest losses. Additionally, the identified opportunities should be taken up by value chain actors to enhance value chain performance.

Introduction Efficiency in food production is crucial for sustainable agriculture in developing countries. This paper contributes to the existing literature by presenting an innovative approach to modeling productive efficiency in beef cattle production. Treating farm performance across regions as unobserved heterogeneity, we determine technical efficiency of beef cattle production in Botswana. We aim to shed light on the factors influencing efficiency in this sector. Methods The study utilized block-level data from various annual agricultural surveys (2006–2014) covering 26 agricultural districts and six agro-ecological regions in Botswana. We employed a latent class stochastic frontier model complemented with the stochastic meta-frontier analysis. Results Results show that the best performing farming systems in terms of efficiency are districts with well-developed infrastructure and better access to output and input markets. In contrast, the farming systems that perform poorly consist of agricultural districts without access to livestock advisory centers, with higher average temperatures and foot and mouth disease, limiting access to export markets. The mean technical efficiency scores for beef production for agricultural districts in class one and two were 62 and 59%, respectively, implying high potential to improve beef production using the same level of agricultural inputs through efficiency-enhancing investments. Discussion Based on our results, it is crucial for agricultural policies to prioritize regionally specific investments that address the needs of the under-performing districts. By targeting the lagging districts, policymakers can help beef producers improve their input efficiency and bridge the technological gaps to the meta-frontier. This can be achieved through investments in infrastructure, access to livestock advisory services, and disease control measures. Such efforts will not only enhance the efficiency of beef production but also contribute to the overall sustainability of the agricultural sector in Botswana.

The study examined the production technologies and productive performance of smallholder beef production systems to determine the levels of technical inefficiency in the agricultural districts of Botswana. The analysis draws on data from 26 districts of Botswana for the period of 2006-2014 to estimate latent class stochastic frontiers in which the technological class to which the agricultural district belongs is determined within the model. To enable efficiency comparisons between agricultural districts across these technological classes, a meta-frontier that encompasses all the class frontiers is estimated. Components of efficiency drivers are embedded in this estimation to explain agricultural districts technical inefficiency with respect to their respective class frontiers. Results show that beef production efficiency is positively associated with the rate of formal education and negatively related with an increase in proportion of exotic breeds, high mortality and low offtake rates, indicating the presence of considerable scope for animal husbandry improvement. The mean technical efficiency scores for beef production between 2006 and 2014 for agricultural districts in class one is 18 % whereas it is 13 % for agricultural districts in class two, implying high potential to improve beef production using the same level of agricultural inputs through efficiency-enhancing investments. Acknowledgement :

Botswana does not have specific subsector policies within the agricultural sector and all subsectors are guided by the national agricultural policy. Three episodes are discernible in the history of Botswana's agricultural policy; increase in the national cattle herd (1966–79); food self-sufficiency (1979–91) and food security (1991 – present). These episodes are guided by Botswana agricultural policy objectives and determine resource allocation within the sector and the overall economy. A number of programs were instituted to increase food production both during the food self-sufficiency and food security eras. In addition, other programs, polices and strategies were instituted to improve access to food. A combination of these interventions and emergency relief measures ensured that no citizen of Botswana died of hunger even during the severe drought periods.

For smallholder livestock farmers to benefit from their livestock, they need to fully participate in the market. This study identifies the determinants of market participation by smallholder livestock farmers in Botswana. The study used data collected from 132 smallholder livestock farmers in Kweneng West in 2007. A logit model was used to identify factors that determine whether smallholder farmers will participate in the market or not. The results indicate that the age of household head negatively and significantly affects market participation, implying that older farmers are less likely to participate in the market; planting crops increases the chances of market participation, as does the accessibility to market price information. The major limitation facing smallholder livestock farmers is the requirement that the animals should have a bolus (for traceability) and veterinary permits. In order to stimulate the participation of smallholder farmers in the market, policies aimed at promoting participation of youth in agriculture should be explored. In addition, policies should target service delivery improvement by all institutions involved in the marketing of cattle including those issuing cattle movement or veterinary permits. This will go a long way in increasing smallholders’ income from livestock and hence improve their living standards. Key words: Botswana, market participation, institutional constraints, transaction costs, logistic regression.

The study used a stochastic metafrontier model followed by a Tobit regression model to estimate technical efficiency and meta-technology ratios and assess factors influencing efficiency of a suite of beef farm types in Botswana. Results show that the average technical efficiency level is 0.496 for the whole sample and 0.355, 0.463 and 0.571 for beef farms who engage in cattle only, cattle and crop, and cattle, crop and small stock farming, respectively. Considerable scope is identified for improving beef production in Botswana, and targeting is enabled by the differential results across the farm types. Policy analysis using models that assume different beef farm types operate under similar technology are therefore presenting a misleading picture. Considering the importance of livestock sector in poverty reduction, there is a need for appropriate policies directed towards enhancing efficiency. Especially, such policies should be targeted on provision of technology-related services such as controlled breeding methods.

Farm level cross sectional data of 556 randomly selected livestock producers were used to investigate the competitiveness of smallholder beef farmers in Botswana. The results show the presence of inefficiency, with about 74% of the variation in actual profit from maximum profit (profit frontier) between farms mainly arising from differences in farmers’ practices rather than random variability. Further the mean profit efficiency level of 0.58 suggests that there is a substantial scope to improve beef profitability in Botswana. Significant profit efficiency drivers include, among others, education, distance to market, herd size, access to information and access to income from crop production. Considering the importance of livestock sector for wealth creation and poverty eradication in the rural areas where poverty is more pronounced, there is a need for appropriate development strategies and policies directed towards addressing these factors. In particular there is need to invest in market infrastructure in order to improve market access, hence profit efficiency of smallholder livestock farmers.

This article examines factors underlying communal beef cattle marketing at a household level in Botswana, with emphasis placed on the role of public and private transfers. Results show that public and private transfers (pensions, remittances, government food rations, and food supplies from friends and relatives) discourage cattle marketing. Thus, while they are important sources of household food security, cash and food transfers may adversely impact on beef export performance in Botswana. It is therefore fundamental that public transfer programmes are well targeted to needy and poor households, in order to minimize their adverse effects on the cattle industry. On the positive side, the paper argues that public transfer programmes may assist poor farmers rebuild their cattle and other livestock inventory, contributing to transition out of inter-generational poverty. JEL Classification: Q12, Q13, Q18.

Kojo Sebastian Amanor and Sam Moyo, eds. Land and Sustainable Development in Africa. New York: Zed Books, 2008. Distributed in the U.S. by Palgrave Mac-Millan. 226 pp. Tables. Select Bibliography. Index. 32.00. Paper. - Volume 53 Issue 1

Studies conducted in the early 1990s by the Ministry of Health in Botswana among children and women of childbearing age revealed widespread malnutrition problems in that country. Fortification of food is viewed as a means of overcoming some of the problems associated with poor nutrition. This study analyses the market for fortified cereal foods in Botswana. The specific objectives of the study are to: (1) determine the importance of various product attributes of cereal products in influencing the purchasing decision of consumers in Botswana, (2) assess the willingness of consumers in Botswana to pay for fortified cereal foods, and (3) develop recommendations to guide private strategy and public policy for fortification in Botswana. The study is based on primary data collected from 452 consumers in Gaborone and the south-east administrative districts using a clustered sampling approach. Results show that, for consumers, the most important attributes, listed in order of importance, were product brand, product quality, price, colour/appearance and nutritional value. Consumers knew little about fortified foods. There is a close correlation between residential area and knowledge about fortified foods, with rural residents having the least knowledge. Willingness to pay for fortified milled products was very low among consumers owing to limited knowledge about fortification and its benefits. The segment-target-position (STP) framework is used to develop strategic recommendations for a market-led fortification programme.

The objective of this study was to determine whether butchery owners in rural Botswana are aware of the New Livestock and Meat Industries Act of 2006 and their perceptions as to how it will affect their businesses. The study further sought to determine whether the present slaughter facilities were compliant with the New Act. A structured questionnaire was administered to butcheries in selected villages of Kgatleng (n=9) and Kweneng (n=4) districts to get butchery owners’ views about the New Act and how it will affect their businesses. Data was analysed using frequencies. The study found that the majority (77%) of butcheries in the study area were aware of the New Act and were in fact in agreement with it. However, all the butchers doubted the ability of the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) to implement and enforce the new regulations because of lack of personnel. The study also found that all the slaughter facilities owned by the butchers interviewed were not compliant with the new regulations. As a result, butchers felt that the New Act will increase their costs as they will be required to either build new abattoirs that are complaint with the new regulations or hire the abattoirs approved by DVS.

Land reforms in Botswana, unlike those in other southern African countries, were not undertaken with the primary objective of redistributing land, but rather with the three objectives of increasing agricultural productivity, conserving range resources and improving social equity in rural Botswana. While there was modest success with the first two goals, the same cannot be said for the third. As it turned out, the two agricultural land reform policies (the Tribal Land Grazing Policy and the National Policy on Agricultural Development) harmed many poor households living in communal areas. Poor people were excluded by constraints such as high development costs, ownership of only small herds or no cattle at all, and lack of human capital. Complementary programmes in the form of innovative loan products and cash grants are needed to compensate them and so help them participate in the land reform process.

African countries embarked on privatisation of their seed industries in the 1980s as part of the structural adjustment programmes.  Botswana however, chose not to privatise its seed production services at that time.  This paper examines the prospects and challenges for embarking on seed sector privatisation in developing countries using Botswana as a case study.  The study found that the present system is such that the department of agricultural research (DAR) through its seed multiplication unit (SMU) dominates seed production and distribution, especially for open pollinated varieties. This has stifled private sector participation in seed production and distribution. The present system has a number of shortcomings such as the provision of poor quality seed, insufficient monitoring of seed production, unfulfillment of contracts, low returns to DAR and limited capacity for seed distribution. Challenges facing the drive for privatisation are: free seed distribution, unreliable seed demand, lack of plant breeder’s rights and lack of institutional and policy framework to support private sector participation in the seed sector.  However, there are a number of prospects that could stimulate private sector participation in the seed sector. These include government’s renewed interest in the development of the arable sector through initiatives that could stimulate seed demand and the government’s privatisation policy. For the process to succeed it should be followed cautiously and the strategy that promises success is that of contracting out and restructuring of the SMU. The government should also embark on institutional reforms and come up with an appropriate seed policy which will guide private sector participation in the seed industry.   Key words: Privatisation, seed, Botswana, challenges, prospects.

Despite rapid economic growth recorded in the last decades following independence in 1966, poverty is still rampant especially in the rural areas of Botswana. Poverty reduction has been on the agenda for many years and poverty reduction strategy has mainly concentrated on the improvement of both agricultural production and productivity since the majority of the population residing in the rural areas depend mainly on agriculture for their livelihoods. The findings of this study indicate that there are other livelihood options available in the rural areas which might help government in its efforts to reduce poverty. According to the study, there are several livelihood options available in the desert margins of Botswana, but communities fail to exploit these due to a number of constraints such as poor access to financial credit, lack of awareness of potential income earners such as eco-tourism, insufficient knowledge and technical expertise. Hence government efforts aimed at improving access to financial credit and creation of awareness on potential income earners apart from agriculture are likely to succeed in reducing poverty in the rural areas. South African Journal of Agricultural Extension Vol. 35 (1) 2006: pp. 37-50