*LEA moves to push horticulture exports
Botswana’s vegetable import bill has significantly declined due to import restriction measures introduiced in recent years, but the country’s horticulture exports remain low and underdeveloped.
By 2022, exports were valued at just P2.75 million, largely concentrated in niche categories such as live plants and botanical products.
Speaking recently at a horticulture workshop in Gaborone, Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) Caretaker Chief Executive Officer Thato Jensen said export markets should no longer feel distant or inaccessible for local farmers.
He urged farmers to position themselves competitively in outside markets, highlighting that trade agreements such as AfCFTA and AGOA provide a huge market for Botswana’s horticulture produce.
“Our objective is simple: to move our farmers beyond production and into sustainable participation in regional and global markets. Horticulture offers strong opportunity for both diversification of the economy and export expansion,” Jensen said.
He however, acknowledged that the sector continues to face significant constraints: such as low productivity and output, market access barriers, post-harvest losses, limited funding due to perceived sector risk, high capital requirements, supply chain distortions and market saturation, water scarcity, and limited adoption of modern and appropriate technologies across the sector.
Jensen also said that as the authority they are to identify products and value chains within the horticulture sector where Botswana can compete and export effectively.
Historically, Botswana has recorded a consistently high horticulture import bill.
In 2012, imports were estimated at approximately P475 million, and within a decade this figure rose to about P1.2 billion in 2021, representing a significant increase of 152 percent.
This trend was largely driven by imports of fresh fruits and vegetables and reflected the supply-side constraints.
Following the introduction of horticulture import restriction measures, the import bill for restricted vegetables declined from around P375.5 million in 2021 to approximately P176.9 million in 2022.
This showcasing improved production from local farmers.
“Export readiness therefore requires far more than good farming, it requires standards compliance, certifications, logistics efficiency, working capital, and market intelligence. Furthermore, opportunity alone is not enough, capability and readiness are essential. To address this, LEA is implementing targeted interventions to support SMMEs through capacity building, certification and compliance support, and access to funding and financial products, market linkage facilitation and export awareness programmes,” said Jensen emphasizing that the goal is to enable SMMEs not only to penetrate the local market but to sustainably participate in export markets.
While some import restrictions have since been partially lifted, the continued reliance on traditional farming methods and low levels of technology adoption has resulted in many farmers producing similar crops at the same time.
This often leads to market saturation, depressed prices, and, in some cases, sales below the cost of production. The global horticulture market is estimated at USD 854.42 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 1,274.25 billion by 2033.
For his part Export Promotion manager at Botswana Investment and Trade Centre Calvin Ketshabetswe said global horticultural markets exhibit pronounced seasonal gaps, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere which provide an opportunity for Botswana.
“Europe, North America, and parts of Asia where winter months (December to March) limit local production of fresh fruits and vegetables due to cold weather, shorter daylight, and frost risks provide a huge market. This creates high demand for imports of tropical, subtropical, and counter-seasonal produce, with global trade in edible fruits and nuts reaching US$142 billion annually, growing 35 % over the past decade. Major importers like the EU and US rely on Southern Hemisphere suppliers to fill these voids, especially for items like citrus, grapes, avocados, mangoes, berries, and vegetables such as tomatoes, onions, and potatoes. For instance, the EU’s off-season demand for tropical fruits has spurred growth in Sub-Saharan African exports, leveraging the region’s ability to harvest during Northern winters,” said Ketshabetswe adding that similarly, emerging markets in the Middle East and Asia offer niches for off-season supplies, with less stringent standards than Europe but comparable prices when accounting for logistics.
