Gaolathe highlighted a plan to diversify Botswana

A GDP target jump from 2% to 6% for agriculture signals Botswana's serious pivot away from diamond dependency.

Agri-business forum highlights

• Vice President Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe laid out the agricultural push.
• Meat processing, crop production, and nutraceuticals are priority areas.
• Slashing the import bill and boosting export-ready goods drive the plan.
• Value-added products are the ticket to global competitiveness.

Botswana Economic Transformation Programme

• Agriculture sits among the country's designated growth sectors.
• Youth, women, and persons with disabilities stand to gain jobs.
• Rural economic activity and industrialization are tied together.
• Raw outputs getting converted into higher-value goods is the goal.

Export readiness gaps

• Keletsositse Olebile flagged weak compliance with international standards.
• The Botswana Investment and Trade Centre wants better certification capacity.
• Technical support for local producers needs a serious upgrade.
• Market access stays limited without meeting global production benchmarks.

Partnership and investment strategy

• Technical training paired with finance access tops the priority list.
• Government agencies, private investors, and development partners must collaborate.
• Sustainable farming practices and innovation anchor the transformation agenda.
• Export-oriented production is central to the whole playbook.