6 July 2026
- BITC facilitates Botswana-South Africa joint venture to establish large-scale irrigated fodder production
- Project aims to strengthen domestic livestock feed supply while creating 183 jobs
- Investment supports Botswana’s efforts to reduce agricultural imports and diversify its economy
Botswana has secured a P288.5 million ($20.8 million) private agricultural investment after the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) facilitated a joint venture between the Matopi Commercial Farmers Association and South African agribusiness Pinion South Africa.
The partnership will establish a large-scale irrigated fodder production enterprise aimed at increasing domestic livestock feed production while creating about 183 direct jobs. BITC Chief Executive Officer Keletsositse Olebile described the agreement as an important milestone for commercial agriculture, adding that the agency would continue supporting implementation of the project.
The investment targets one of Botswana’s biggest agricultural constraints: limited domestic production of livestock feed. Livestock, particularly beef production, remains one of the country’s most important agricultural industries and a major source of non-mineral export earnings. However, recurrent droughts, low rainfall and limited irrigated farming have restricted fodder production, forcing many farmers to rely on imported feed, particularly from neighbouring South Africa.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), feed shortages remain one of the principal factors limiting livestock productivity across Southern Africa, especially during prolonged dry periods when natural grazing deteriorates.
The project also supports Botswana’s broader strategy of using commercial agriculture to diversify an economy historically dominated by diamonds. According to the World Bank, agriculture contributes around 2% of GDP, reflecting persistent structural challenges including water scarcity, climate variability and low irrigation coverage. In response, the government has increasingly promoted private investment in climate-resilient agriculture through partnerships designed to expand domestic production, strengthen value chains and improve food security.
Developing local fodder production has become an important part of that strategy. Botswana imports a significant share of both its food and agricultural inputs, leaving producers exposed to supply disruptions and higher import costs during periods of regional drought or global market volatility. By increasing irrigated fodder production, the new venture is expected to improve the availability of livestock feed, reduce dependence on imports and strengthen the competitiveness of Botswana’s beef industry, which exports premium beef to international markets, including the European Union and other high-value destinations.
Source: https://shorturl.at/3kf8D
