Botswana Agriculture Ministry Targets 250,000 New Jobs by 2029

Botswana Agriculture Ministry Targets 250,000 New Jobs by 2029. The Ministry of Lands and Agriculture has announced plans to create 250,000 new agricultural jobs by 2029/30, with a focus on youth and women, aiming to transform Botswana’s farming sector into a hub of sustainable enterprise and innovation.

Acting Minister Edwin Dikoloti outlined the plan during the Public Investment Programme (PIP) presentation under the draft 12th National Development Plan (NDP 12). The initiative comes after the sector recorded a net loss of 5,005 agricultural jobs in 2024, underscoring the urgent need for interventions that can stimulate growth, attract private-sector participation, and build resilient rural economies.

The ministry intends to drive job creation through cluster-based approaches across crop, livestock, and dairy production. Mechanisation, climate-smart farming techniques, and agritech solutions are central to this strategy, designed to increase productivity while creating scalable opportunities for young entrepreneurs and women-led ventures.

Dikoloti emphasised that the programme is not only about job numbers but also about fostering sustainable rural enterprises. By integrating technology and innovative business models into the agricultural value chain, the ministry aims to create viable enterprises that can generate income, support food security, and stimulate local economies..

For Botswana’s business community, the plan opens opportunities in agritech services, mechanisation supply, training and extension services, processing and value addition, and market access solutions. Investors and private-sector players are encouraged to engage in partnerships that leverage these initiatives, bridging the gap between policy targets and market-driven growth.

The Agriculture Ministry’s 2029 vision represents a strategic push to modernise Botswana’s agricultural sector, transform livelihoods, and position the country as a competitive player in the regional food and agribusiness economy.