Ploughing season is here

Good morning, let’s get into it?

On 20 November 2025, the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture appeared on Botswana Television’s “Botswana Tonight” programme to give an important update on the national agricultural campaign Letsema Campaign for the 2025/26 season. The guest was Dr Edwin G. Dikoloti, Acting Minister of Lands & Agriculture. The conversation covered both opportunities and challenges ahead for Botswana’s farming sector and land-use systems.

Key Messages

1. Agricultural focus & Letsema campaign
   The Letsema initiative is the seasonal drive to mobilise inputs, maximise crop and livestock production, and ensure food security in Botswana. The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to support farmers under the 2025/26 campaign.

2. Land-management reforms
   Dr Dikoloti emphasised that land management remains a critical bottleneck for growth in agriculture. He noted that slow land allocation, outdated systems, and weak linkages between land boards, extension services, and farms are restraining productivity. (Previously, he had indicated that the land management system “must be looked into” to address bottlenecks). dailynews.gov.bw+1

3. Value-addition and diversification
   The minister pressed the need to move beyond mere production: Botswana needs to add value in agriculture, link to global standards, and open up the sector to foreign direct investment (FDI) in value chains. dailynews.gov.bw

4. Extension services and inputs
   Extension support, seed quality, pest control and modernised farming systems were flagged as priorities. For example, concerns were raised about shipments of uncertified seeds that resulted in crop failure in certain villages. dailynews.gov.bw+1

5. Livestock and stock-theft concerns
   In regions such as Barolong, livestock theft remains a serious barrier to the growth of the livestock subsector. The minister spoke of the need for a “multi-pronged approach” to rustling. dailynews.gov.bw

6. Targets & vision
   In the budget presentation earlier this year, Dr Dikoloti noted that agriculture’s share of GDP (historically around 2 %) must rise significantly by 2036. dailynews.gov.bw

What This Means for Stakeholders

• Farmers & agripreneurs: The message is clear — the government intends to create a more enabling environment, but the responsibility remains on farmers to adopt certified inputs, engage with extension services, and integrate value-chain strategies.

• Investors & service providers: Land-use and agricultural value chains are prioritised growth areas. There are signals of openness to FDI, especially in processing, modernisation, and export-oriented production.

• Policy watchers & media: The Letsema update underscores a shift from purely production-oriented support to a broader agenda of land reform, value-addition, seed quality, livestock security, and global competitiveness.

Source

Btv news