… A press release from the Office of the President further states that Member of Parliament for Charleshill, Mr Motsamai Motsamai, has been transferred from Ministry of Water and Human Settlement and appointed assistant minister at the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture. …
… The Ministry of Lands and Agriculture says suspected infections have been identified at Steelbase Farm and Mpusang Farm in the Banyana farming area, dimming hopes that restrictions in Zone 11 could soon be lifted. …
… Ms Magosi stated that to mitigate future flood risks, the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture together with local farmers were prioritising critical infrastructure upgrades within the Pandamatenga area. …
… Recent press releases from the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture (MOLA) have warned that an outbreak has threatened Botswana’s export market access and broader farming incomes. …
… According to a press release from the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) also suspended the FMD free status of the larger FMD free zone, which consists of Zones 3c (Dukwi), 4b,5, 8, 6a, 9,10,11,12 and 13 following the FMD outbreak i …
Minister of Lands and Agriculture Dr Dikoloti told Parliament that completing a 400km route could unlock international beef markets and reverse economic damage from prolonged livestock restrictions, urging farmers to exercise patience as the government works to end the foot-and-mouth disease crisis.
Minister of Lands and Agriculture Dr Dikoloti told Parliament that completing a 400km route could unlock international beef markets and reverse economic damage from prolonged livestock restrictions, urging farmers to exercise patience as the government works to end the foot-and-mouth disease crisis.
The Botswana Prison Service recorded an agricultural harvest valued at P2,044,568 during the 2025/2026 cropping season, including 3,000 bags of maize, 368 bags of sorghum, 147 bags of beans, 36,110 kilogrammes of vegetables, 3,542 kilogrammes of citrus fruits, and 20,000 kilogrammes of mixed livestock feed. The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services said the harvest demonstrates how offender rehabilitation contributes to national food production and reduces government expenditure on prisoners' upkeep.
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.
Kgang Kgang, suspended chairperson of the Kweneng Land Board for more than a year, has announced his intention to apply for renewal of his term when his contract expires. Corruption charges against him were withdrawn by the courts due to insufficient evidence, but his suspension remains in place without a formal disciplinary hearing, and he says the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture has not responded to his letters seeking clarity on his case.
Rats are not classified as wildlife under Botswana's Compensation Act and do not qualify for government payouts, according to the Senior Wildlife Warden. Rats fall under agriculture jurisdiction, and the Wildlife and National Parks Department lacks data to present to government to prove large-scale crop destruction by rodents.
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.
Kgang Kgang, suspended chair of the Kweneng Land Board for over a year on corruption allegations that were later withdrawn due to insufficient evidence, says he plans to apply for renewal of his term when his contract expires. He has complained of receiving no response from the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture to his letters seeking clarity on his suspension and the status of a disciplinary hearing.
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.
Botswana's Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs has deployed 1,050 Ikageng Workers to support foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) control activities across villages in Ramotswa, Good Hope, and Tsabong districts. The workers will assist in establishing a containment zone to isolate affected areas and protect the country's livestock industry and international trade status.
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.
Botswana's livestock sector faces renewed pressure after suspected Foot and Mouth Disease cases were identified at Steelbase Farm and Mpusang Farm in the Banyana farming area, threatening to prolong movement restrictions and increase financial strain on cattle farmers.
Pandamatenga farmers have committed 38,908 hectares to crops this season despite severe flooding that brought operations to a standstill in January and February. Though the hectorage has decreased from last season's 41,000 hectares, the region's farmers have replanted flood-damaged areas and shifted toward sunflower, maize, and barley production to avoid market saturation and meet international demand.
An FMD outbreak in Zone 11 has triggered livestock movement restrictions and export suspensions, disrupting cash flows for farmers and agribusinesses who depend on seasonal cattle sales to service bank loans. The disruption is increasing loan restructuring requests, arrears, and non-performing loans, particularly in agricultural portfolios, while reduced transaction volumes in rural communities slow economic activity.
The European Union has suspended beef imports from Botswana's larger foot and mouth disease (FMD) free zones following an FMD outbreak in Zone 11. The World Organisation for Animal Health also suspended the FMD free status of the affected zone, and disease surveillance has detected FMD in three additional crushes, prompting movement bans and vaccination efforts.