Also known as: Dr Edwin Dikoloti · Dr Dikoloti · Minister Dikoloti · Minister of Lands and Agriculture Edwin Dikoloti · Dr. Edwin Dikoloti · Minister of Lands and Agriculture Dr. Edwin Dikoloti
Good Hope/Mmathethe MP and Agriculture Minister who advocates for climate-smart farming and agricultural commercialisation in Botswana.
… Minister of Land and Agriculture, Dr Edwin Dikoloti, highlighted the need to rethink how agricultural finance is structured, arguing that a one-size-fits-all approach has often failed to meet the diverse needs of the sector. …
Botswana can no longer continue to finance agriculture the wrong way after years of substantial public investment that has not consistently translated into production, productivity and profitability, Ministry of Lands and Agriculture minister, Dr Edwin Dikoloti, has said. …
… Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Edwin Dikoloti, noted the initiative comes at a critical time as Botswana seeks to increase agriculture's contribution to the economy and accelerate growth within the livestock industry. …
… Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Edwin Dikoloti, urged Bangwaketse regiments, particularly the newly inducted Maisantwa III, to volunteer in constructing a critical 37-kilometre fence along the Tswane-Sekhutlane cutline in the FMD containment zone. …
… This was said by Minister of Communications and Innovation, Mr David Tshere, who was standing in for acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Edwin Dikoloti in his welcome remarks yesterday, during the tour of the Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) by South Africa President Cyr …
The Acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Edwin Dikoloti, says at 83 per cent vaccination coverage rate in Zone 6B South, the figure was the lowest among all the zones. …
… Acting Minister of Agriculture, Edwin Dikoloti, addressing Kgotla residents last week, said proceeding with the launch under current conditions would expose the country to significant trade risks.“Opening an export-led and export-ready abattoir while the disease is active in cont …
Botswana is currently battling a serious outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) that has spread across several parts of the country, placing pressure on the economy and livelihoods, says the Acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Edwin Dikoloti. …
… Speaking on Thursday during the Foot and Mouth Pitso, Acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Edwin Dikoloti revealed that the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) is now holding beef stock valued at no less than P202 million, which can no longer be exported to premium internation …
Farmers in Botswana's Okavango region say limited and poorly structured markets are preventing them from expanding horticultural production despite having adequate land, water, and capacity. The Okavango Horticulture Farmers Association, representing more than 60 of an estimated 140 horticultural producers in the district, reports that farmers base production decisions on what they believe they can sell rather than on market demand, forcing them toward lower-value crops like rape instead of higher-value options such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and butternuts.
Farmers in Botswana's Okavango region say limited and poorly structured markets are preventing them from expanding horticultural production despite having adequate land, water, and capacity. The Okavango Horticulture Farmers Association, representing more than 60 of an estimated 140 horticultural producers in the district, reports that farmers base production decisions on what they believe they can sell rather than on market demand, forcing them toward lower-value crops like rape instead of higher-value options such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and butternuts.
Botswana's Minister of Lands and Agriculture has urged real estate practitioners to participate in consultations on amendments to the Real Estate Professionals Act, which will strengthen alignment with Financial Intelligence Act requirements and prepare the country for an ESAAMLG Mutual Evaluation in 2027 assessing compliance with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism standards.
Good Hope/Mmathethe MP Dr Edwin Dikoloti has challenged civil servants to be more responsive and proactive, saying issues raised at kgotla meetings should be addressed urgently. He cited complaints about poor school infrastructure, lack of water, and road delays, calling on all involved to seek solutions at local authority level.
Botswana is moving from financing individual farmers to financing bankable agricultural value chains to unlock investment and improve productivity. The strategy links financing to real economic activity involving markets, contracts, aggregation, and other participants, with a phased implementation beginning with institutional foundations and pilot projects over 18 to 24 months.
Okavango horticulture farmers face limited market opportunities despite producing high-grade vegetables and crops, according to the Okavango Horticulture Farmers Association chairperson. The association, which has over 60 members, recently held a farmers market day and crop exhibition to showcase produce and network with stakeholders, though the chairperson said this effort alone is insufficient to address the shortage of available markets.
The Real Estate Institute of Botswana will host a conference on August 28, 2026, in Gaborone to address gaps in professional practice and foster collaboration among stakeholders involved in property transactions, including estate agents, conveyancers, financial institutions, regulators, and government departments.
Botswana has donated 100,000 doses of Foot-and-Mouth Disease vaccine produced by the Botswana Vaccine Institute to Lesotho to strengthen disease response and deepen cooperation between the two countries. The donation, handed over by the Minister of Lands and Agriculture, follows commitments under the Botswana-Lesotho Binational Commission and reflects shared efforts to protect livelihoods and food security.
Feedlot operators have taken government officials to the High Court, claiming losses of P27.8 million, but the government argues in its affidavit that the farmers seek to expose the public to the risk of Foot and Mouth disease spread for private economic benefit.
The High Court dismissed the Law Society of Botswana's urgent application to rescind the ad hoc admission of South African Advocate Reginald Willis, who was brought in to represent two companies challenging the government's handling of foot-and-mouth disease affecting Botswana's cattle industry and beef exports. Chief Justice Ketlogetswe found the LSB's challenge "misconceived" and ruled that the Society had been properly notified and was not a necessary party to the underlying application.
Two feedlot companies have withdrawn their court action against the Botswana Meat Commission and now seek to sue the Director of Veterinary Services, the Minister of Lands and Agriculture, the Attorney General, and several industry bodies. The firms, represented by a South African FMD expert lawyer, argue that vaccinated feedlot cattle have been left stranded with millions of pula at stake.
Botswana's housing and land crisis has reached alarming levels, with nearly 440,000 citizens waiting for residential plots while government admits it cannot say when the backlog will be cleared. The land allocation system is overwhelmed by demand and constrained by limited land, funding shortages, and inadequate infrastructure.
Botswana has unveiled a strategic initiative to establish a globally recognized beef brand focused on high-quality, sustainably raised, and 100% grass-fed beef produced under stringent food safety and ethical farming standards. The Minister of Lands and Agriculture said the move would enable the country to capture greater value through branding and certification rather than exporting raw commodities.
The Minister of Lands and Agriculture told Parliament that government cannot afford to clear the country's land allocation waiting list within three years, responding to a motion calling on government to commit to allocating plots to those on waiting lists within that timeframe. The minister said the proposal was neither practical nor achievable under the country's current financial and administrative constraints.
Botswana Tourism Organisation has endorsed the Beyond 40 Walk, a national wellness initiative organised by TM Media Consultancy scheduled for September 5, 2026, at the Three Dikgosi Monument in Gaborone. BTO's support aligns with its mandate to promote Botswana as a destination for leisure, recreation, and domestic tourism.
Agriculture Minister Dr Edwin Dikoloti has urged farmers to adopt climate-smart agriculture to prepare for anticipated El Niño conditions in the upcoming ploughing season, emphasizing that reliable weather information and planning are essential for making decisions on planting dates, crop selection, water management, and risk mitigation.
Parliament was informed that Botswana's poultry industry has achieved self-sufficiency in chicken meat and eggs and is preparing to enter export markets, with the industry's value expected to grow from P3.5 billion to P10 billion by 2030.
Ross Breeders has become the first poultry exporter in Botswana, dispatching 90,000 hatching eggs to Mozambique as part of a planned weekly export programme. Agriculture Minister Dr Edwin Dikoloti said the milestone demonstrates regional confidence in Botswana's poultry sector and aligns with the government's agricultural commercialisation strategy.
The Botswana government is preparing a multi-million pula investment to revive the ostrich industry, seeking to tap growing global demand for ostrich products and reduce dependence on diamonds. The Minister of Lands and Agriculture said government has identified export opportunities but will first focus on rebuilding domestic production to ensure consistent supply to overseas markets.
Ross Breeders company in Artesia will export 90,000 hatchery eggs to Mozambique every week, marking the start of a sustainable export programme aimed at positioning Botswana as a premier poultry hub. The project has generated 370 direct jobs, according to the Minister of Lands and Agriculture.
President Advocate Duma Boko visited the Dibete Ostrich Multiplication Unit, a state-owned breeding facility established in 2006 near Gaborone, signalling a government push to revive Botswana's commercial ostrich sector as an alternative economic driver amid volatile diamond markets. The sector, which produces high-value feathers, lean meat and premium leather, has been constrained by the absence of a reliable local feed value chain.
The Ministry of Lands and Agriculture, in partnership with the FAO, held a consultative workshop to validate and strengthen a draft Agriculture Financing Strategy aimed at unlocking investment at scale, attracting private capital, and strengthening agricultural value chains as Botswana seeks to accelerate agricultural transformation and reduce food import reliance.
Botswana's agriculture minister says the country must reassess its financing approach after years of substantial public investment have not consistently delivered expected production, productivity and profitability gains. The FMD outbreak has prompted a defining moment to evaluate whether agriculture financing has achieved necessary transformational outcomes, despite government support through subsidies, grants, infrastructure programmes and other interventions.
Botswana's Ministry of Lands and Agriculture has launched the National Fodder Strategy, developed with the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation, to reduce dependence on imported animal feed and lower the dairy import bill while promoting local production of climate-resilient fodder crops like lablab and lucerne.
Kgosi Malope II has named a new regiment Maisantwa III among the Bangwaketse, with initiates receiving education on life skills, gender-based violence, substance abuse, and agricultural concerns. The ceremony also included an appeal for the newly inducted regiment to volunteer in constructing a 37-kilometre fence in an FMD containment zone.
Dr Edwin Dikoloti, MP for Good Hope-Mmathethe, has been appointed Minister of Lands and Agriculture. Motsamai Motsamai, MP for Charleshill, has been transferred from the Ministry of Water and Human Settlement to serve as assistant minister at the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture, effective immediately.
A Botswana minister said stronger regional cooperation is needed to combat an escalating Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in Southern Africa that has disrupted livestock trade and threatened livelihoods, highlighting the failure of isolated national responses to the transboundary disease.
Acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture Dr Edwin Dikoloti expressed concern that Zone 6B South's Foot and Mouth Disease vaccination coverage rate of 83 per cent was the lowest among all zones, with Zone 6B North at 95 per cent and Zone 3C at 100 per cent. He emphasized that vaccination was crucial to fighting FMD and urged farmers to adhere to veterinary control measures as Botswana faces simultaneous outbreaks across multiple zones for the first time.
The Tsabong Abattoir, scheduled to open in May, has been postponed as veterinary authorities contain foot-and-mouth disease spread. The Acting Minister of Agriculture said opening during active containment would expose the country to trade risks and potential international blacklisting.
Botswana is battling a serious Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak that has spread across several parts of the country, impacting beef exports and causing loss of access to the European Union market under the SADC–EU partnership agreement. The Acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture says many households depend on cattle for income and food, and government is now working with private sector and faith-based organisations to develop a recovery plan.
A foot-and-mouth disease outbreak detected last month has disrupted Botswana's access to quota-free and duty-free EU markets under the EU-SADC Economic Partnership Agreement. The Botswana Meat Commission is holding beef stock valued at no less than P202 million that can no longer be exported to premium international markets, and the country faces production losses and increased disease control costs; government has established a National FMD Command Centre to coordinate response efforts.