Botswana launches National Fodder Strategy to reduce reliance on imported animal feed

Botswana has introduced the National Fodder Strategy, developed by the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organisation, to decrease its dependence on imported animal feed and boost the local livestock sector. The strategy aims to transform the country's livestock industry, reduce the national dairy import bill, and promote local production of climate-resilient fodder crops like lablab and lucerne. Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Edwin Dikoloti, stated that this initiative is crucial for increasing agriculture's contribution to the GDP to between six and 10% over the next five years and growing the national cattle population to five million. The government projects a 103% increase in demand for livestock feed by 2030, and the strategy is expected to help meet this demand, support a 60% expansion of the dairy industry, and cut the dairy import bill by nearly 75%. Previous interventions, such as the Lemang Dijo programme, have already laid groundwork for increased fodder production.