Crosscorn Advances Botswana’s Push for Locally Produced Seed

Crosscorn Advances Botswana’s Push for Locally Produced SSeed. Botswana’s efforts to strengthen local seed production are gaining attention as Crosscorn expands its work in seed production, processing and distribution.

The Ministry of Lands and Agriculture recently visited Crosscorn as part of ongoing engagement with stakeholders involved in innovation across the agricultural value chain.

The company is focused on increasing access to locally produced seeds and demonstrating Botswana’s capacity to develop seed varieties for the domestic market. Crosscorn Managing Director Tebogo Motingwa said the company’s vision is to demonstrate that Botswana can produce seeds capable of competing with those sourced from international markets.

According to Motingwa, Crosscorn works with technical partners involved in research and seed development, while its distribution networks support access to its products among farmers across the country.

Field demonstrations form part of the company’s approach to promoting locally produced seed. These demonstrations give farmers and members of the public an opportunity to observe the performance of local seed varieties.

Motingwa said the demonstrations are intended to challenge perceptions about locally produced seed and show its potential to compete with imported alternatives.

The company’s work comes against a backdrop of Botswana’s reliance on imported seed varieties for agricultural production. The development of local production could provide an additional source of seed for farmers while contributing to the growth of domestic agricultural capabilities.

Motingwa also identified potential economic opportunities linked to developing the local seed industry. These include employment creation, enterprise development and expansion into regional markets.

Crosscorn is exploring opportunities to supply neighbouring countries, including through partnerships that could support the distribution of Botswana-produced seeds beyond the domestic market.