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A COMPREHENSIVE SCOPING AND ASSESSMENT STUDY OF CLIMATE SMART
AGRICULTURE POLICIES IN BOTSWANA
REPORT
30 April 2014
BY
NNYALADZI BATISANI (PhD)
Commissioned by
The Food, Agriculture and Natural resources Policy Analysis Network
(FANRPAN)
Table of Contents
Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................... iv
List of Figures ................................................................................................................................. v
List of Tables .................................................................................................................................. v
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 1
1.1. Objectives of the Study ................................................................................................... 4
1.2. Options for Early Action on Climate Smart Agriculture ................................................ 5
2. Brief Country background ...................................................................................................... 5
2.1. Vulnerability of the country’s agriculture to climate variability and change ................. 6
3. Methodology ........................................................................................................................... 6
3.1. Identification of climate smart activities in agriculture and allied sectors policies ........ 6
3.1.1. Climate smartness of planned investments test ........................................................ 7
3.1.2. CSA investments priority areas test .......................................................................... 7
4. Evaluation of the country’s policy environment for CSA investments .................................. 8
5. Results and Discussion ........................................................................................................... 8
5.1. Institutional Infrastructure for Climate Change in Botswana ......................................... 9
5.1.1. International Conventions and Protocols .................................................................. 9
5.1.2. National Climate Change Focal Point ....................................................................... 9
5.1.3. Botswana Designated National Authority (DNA) .................................................... 9
5.1.4. Technical Committee to Review Projects ............................................................... 10
5.1.5. New Market Mechanisms ....................................................................................... 11
5.1.6. Key CSA Policies in the Country ........................................................................... 12
5.1.6.1. National Agricultural Policy:1991................................................................... 13
5.1.6.2. CSA activities on the ground and stakeholders pushing for CSA in Botswana
16
i. Minimum tillage...................................................................................................... 16
ii. Conservation agriculture ..................................................................................... 17
iii. Irrigation and water management ........................................................................ 17
iv. Adapted crop farming practices .......................................................................... 17
v. New crop varieties ............................................................................................... 17
6. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 17
References ..................................................................................................................................... 19
Appendices .................................................................................................................................... 22
A.1 Table 1: GHG emissions by sector for the year 2000 ................................................... 22
A.2 Table 2: Summary of Agricultural Policies Compatible to CSA in Botswana ............. 22
A.3 Table 3: Climate smart agriculture relevancy of agricultural policies .......................... 23
A.4 Table 4: Allied Sectors Policies Climate smart agriculture compatibility .................... 28
A.5 Table 5: Released and pre-released sorghum varieties ................................................. 32
A.6 Table 6: Release and pre-released maize varieties ....................................................... 33
A.7 Table 7: Released and pre-released cowpea varieties ................................................... 33
A.8 Table 8: Released groundnut varieties .......................................................................... 34
A.9 Table 9: Released Bambara varieties ............................................................................ 34
Executive Summary
The overall objective of the study was to conduct a comprehensive scoping and assessment of
climate smart agriculture and allied sector policies in Botswana. To achieve this goal, literature
review on climate smart agriculture and placing it within the continent and the country’s context
was performed. This review was then followed by a screening process, which consisted of a
desktop analysis aimed at identifying the potential contribution of national agricultural and allied
sectors policy instruments to adaptation and mitigation and the potential to align these policies
with climate smart agriculture. The screening also aimed at assessing the extent to which policy
instruments are consistent with, take account of and / or would potentially contribute to
adaptation to slow onset climate change and extreme events due to climate change. Agriculture
contributes 24% of the country’s green house gas emissions, hence the need for climate smart
agriculture to reduce the sector’s carbon foot print without compromising food security.
Although the country is a signatory to various international treaties on climate change, currently
there are no national policies that explicitly address climate change and subsequently climate
smart agriculture. Nevertheless, as agricultural policies were developed with sustainable
production and social equity as their bases they are invariably climate smart agriculture savvy
although not explicitly. Therefore, offering a firm foundation for climate smart agriculture in the
country. Farm level techniques such as irrigation, crop varieties, minimum tillage, improvement
of livestock management already exist or practiced highlighting the potential for fast tracking
climate smart agriculture initiatives. Nevertheless, an assessment of the causes of low adoption
and also lack of impact on food security attainment in the country of past agricultural policies is
a crucial aspect of the implementation of climate smart agriculture in the country.
List of Figures
Figure 1. Potential synergies and trade-offs among food production, mitigation, and adaptation
(Branca et al., 2012) ................................................................................................................ 3
Figure 2: Relating climate smart agriculture to other green agricultural concepts (FAO, 2010) ... 4
List of Tables
Table 1: GHG emissions by sector for the year 2000 ................................................................... 22
Table 2: Summary of Agricultural Policies Compatible to CSA in Botswana ............................. 23
Table 3: Climate smart agriculture relevancy of agricultural policies .......................................... 28
Table 4: Allied Sectors Policies Climate smart agriculture compatibility .................................... 30
Table 5: Released and pre-released sorghum varieties ................................................................. 33
Table 6: Release and pre-released maize varieties ....................................................................... 33
Table 7: Released and pre-released cowpea varieties ................................................................... 34
Table 8: Released groundnut varieties .......................................................................................... 34
Table 9: Released Bambara varieties ............................................................................................ 35
1. Introduction
Global models and projections of food supply and demand into the new millennium show supply
of food meeting or, in some instances, exceeding demands (Devereux & Edwards, 2004). A
major shortcoming of these modeling efforts are their inability to capture regional inequalities in
food production and the absence of the whole new phenomenon of global environmental change
and more specifically, climate variability and change (Stephen & Downing, 2001). Yet,
variability in climatic conditions has been argued to be a stumbling block to food security in
most developing countries and especially in Sub-Saharan Africa (Codjoe & Owusu, 2011). This
situation is because, first, Sub-Saharan Africa already experiences high temperatures and low
(and highly variable) precipitation; second, because the economies are highly dependent on
agriculture; and third, because there is low adoption of modern technology (Codjoe & Owusu,
2011; IPCC, 2001; Jones & Thornton, 2003; Kurukulasuriya & Rosenthal, 2003; Kurukulasuriya
et al., 2006; Pearce et al., 1996; Rosenzweig & Parry, 1994). Vermeulen et al. (2012) noted that
global estimates can be misleading, as food is not globally pooled, with many of the world’s
poorest rural populations continue to rely for their sustenance and livelihoods primarily on local
food and local economies that are poorly integrated into global markets (Barrett, 2008; Batisani
2012).
Science and policy are united in recognition of the serious global challenge of making enough
food available for growing populations under conditions of escalating resource scarcity and
climate change (Foley et al., 2011; Godfray, Pretty, Thomas, Warham, & Beddington, 2011;
Vermeulen et al., 2012). Nevertheless, FAO forecasts estimate that, to meet demand, cereal
production in 2050 will need to be about 70% higher than 2006 levels (FAO, 2006). However,
estimates of the impacts of climate change on production of cereals and other major food crops,
whether based on models or historical empirical data, point to long-term yield reductions
associated with climatic trends and extremes (Easterling et al., 2007; Knox, Hess, Daccache, &
Perez, 2011; Lobell, Banziger, & Magorokosho, 2011; Vermeulen et al., 2012). Furthermore,
recent food prices volatility showed that climate change can be an important threat multiplier to
food security and that it is introducing another source of risk and uncertainty into food systems
from farm to global levels. The compounding effects of spiking food and fuel prices, the global
economic downturn in 2009, and weather anomalies are estimated to have reversed the steady
decline in the proportion of undernourished in the population (FAO 2009a). Also, they could
reverse the economic gains obtained by a number of African countries in recent years. Increasing
agriculture’s adaptive capacity could help ensure that these gains are maintained or enhanced
under climatic change and avoid a slide back into poverty and hunger. Food security and climate
change have therefore moved up on the development agenda, and are likely to remain major
development concerns for Africa – especially sub-Saharan Africa – in the foreseeable future.
Although there is widespread recognition that the challenges of food security and climate change
are closely linked within the agriculture sector, too often, policy, institutional arrangements, and
funding channels for climate change, food security, and rural development are poorly
coordinated at international levels, and in many cases, at national levels. Therefore, early action
on climate change in the agricultural sector allows countries to prepare for near- and longer-term
agricultural adaptation and mitigation action, closely linked with national food security and
development efforts. African policymakers are thus challenged to ensure that agriculture
contributes to addressing food security, development and climate change (adaptation and
mitigation). Approaches that seek to maximize the benefits and minimize the trade-offs across
these multiple objectives (which are closely linked within the agriculture sector) require more
integrated and coordinated planning, policies and institutional arrangements, as well as financing
and investment. Such approaches and their related enabling requirements are referred to as
climate smart agriculture (CSA) (Branca et al., 2012).
The concept of climate-smart agriculture focuses on maximizing benefits and minimizing
negative trade-offs across the multiple objectives that agriculture is being called upon to address:
food security, development, and climate change adaptation and mitigation (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Potential synergies and trade-offs among food production, mitigation, and
adaptation (Branca et al., 2012)
Climate smart agriculture seeks to maximize benefits and minimize negative trade-offs across the
multiple objectives that agriculture is being called on to address: food security, development,
climate change adaptation, and mitigation. Key elements include increasing productivity and
resilience, reducing GHG emissions or enhancing sequestration, and managing interfaces with
other land uses. Climate smart agricultural options will in many cases be sustainable agriculture
practices that take into account the need for climate change adaptation and mitigation. Although
it is expected that aggregate emissions from agriculture will increase to meet the food demands
and development needs of a growing global population, climate smart agricultural options should
not be viewed solely through a mitigation lens, given the importance of climate change
adaptation to food security as well as to livelihoods, employment, and the overall economy.
Increasing productivity and the resilience of agricultural systems to climate change impacts, both
from extreme events and slower-onset changes, as well as enhancing agricultural adaptation by
altering exposure, reducing sensitivity, and increasing adaptive capacity, are considered
fundamental to the continued viability of agriculture in many areas (Branca et al., 2012). Climate
Smart Agriculture defines an agriculture that sustainably increases productivity, resilience
(adaptation), reduces/removes GHGs (mitigation), and enhances achievement of national food
security and development goals (FAO, 2010). It is an amalgamation of agricultural green
concepts (Figure, 3).
Figure 2: Relating climate smart agriculture to other green agricultural concepts (FAO,
2010)
1.1.Objectives of the Study
The overall objective of the study was to conduct a comprehensive scoping and assessment of
climate smart agriculture policies in Botswana. Specifically the study sought to:
Conduct a comprehensive review of the existing CSA policies
Analyze gaps in the existing policy frameworks
Identify relevant policy recommendations, and
Develop and share policy recommendations at national and regional levels.
1.2.Options for Early Action on Climate Smart Agriculture
Drawing on national policy instruments, countries could decide to identify climate-smart
agricultural practices and policies as well as map their testing and implementation in the context
of sustainable agricultural development. Early action might be funded domestically or through
international climate financing, including fast-start financing, as well as other bilateral and
multilateral channels. National early-action policies and measures might include: building a
country-specific evidence base that could generate the required information, data, and knowledge
to identify climate-smart agricultural practices as well as constraints to their adoption; more
integrated and innovative policy design to overcome adoption barriers; institutional and
financing arrangements; and formulation of implementation strategies. These activities should
also contribute to capacity building, consolidation of country ownership, and confidence-
building; they could all benefit from consultation with stakeholders.
There is no blueprint for climate smart agriculture and the specific contexts of countries and
communities would need to shape if and how it is ultimately implemented. The specific
conditions, circumstances, and capacities within countries will define opportunities and barriers
to implementation, and hence policy choices. Some countries may find that adaptation (due to
country-specific impacts and vulnerabilities), food security (due to chronic food deficits or
impacts of food price volatility), or productivity increases (required for livelihoods and economic
growth) may be the most appropriate entry point, while others may wish to contribute to
mitigation. Climate smart agriculture and other more narrowly focused adaptation and mitigation
activities are not mutually exclusive and could proceed in parallel. Most countries are not
starting from zero and have already undertaken relevant activities that can be a foundation for
further action (Branca et al., 2012).
2. Brief Country background
When the country became independent in 1966, the agricultural sector (consisting of mainly
cattle farming) dominated the economy as it contributed about 40% to the country’s GDP. After
more than four decades of independence, Botswana has undergone a fundamental structural
change in its political economy that has reversed this status. The mining sector, dominated by
diamonds, now contributes about 31% to the country’s GDP, while the agricultural sector has
dropped its contribution precipitously to about 2.6%. Formal employment is dominated by
commerce, manufacturing and the service sector, while agriculture’s contribution (affected by
endemic droughts) to formal employment is less than 6% (Bank of Botswana [BoB], 2001).
Despite these structural economic changes, 70% of the estimated 1.8 million people still live in
rural areas and subsist on agriculture, tourism and other non-farm activities (Batisani, 2012).
Owing to its landlocked position between Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, the country is
susceptible to the unstable regional political situation in Southern Africa. Furthermore, its
economy is extremely open with exports and imports being responsible for 58 and 60%,
respectively, of the GDP in 1994 (Botswana Government, 1999). The country depends heavily
on international markets and minerals and beef exports accounted for 74 and 7%, respectively, of
total exports in 1998. Owing to low arable development, domestic food consumption has to be
met by cereal imports, and during drought periods, these imports go up to 90%. Food is therefore
a substantial component of the import bill (e.g. 17% in 1998). The country is also dependent on
international currencies and external terms of trade trends, which fluctuate – they deteriorated
by 27% between 1997 and 1998 (GoB, 1999). The country’s economic vulnerability and
dependency on external factors was demonstrated in the early 1990s and at present when
diamond prices are depressed due to global recession and simultaneously access to the European
Union (EU) market temporarily blocked owing to foot and mouth disease restrictions (Mukherjee
& Robinson, 1997). All these factors highlight the multifaceted nature of the country’s food
insecurity (Batisani, 2012).
2.1.Vulnerability of the country’s agriculture to climate variability and change
Rainfall and agricultural drought depicts high spatial variability and occurrence (drought), while
yield shows high spatial and temporal instability posing a challenge to domestic food production
under these prevailing climatic conditions, which are set to worsen with climate change.
Although the shortfall in domestic food production could be meet through imports, the slump of
the country’s major imports during the same period meant that the country could have been
financial constrained to meet this deficit (Batisani, 2012).
3. Methodology
3.1.Identification of climate smart activities in agriculture and allied sectors policies
The screening process, which consists of a desk analysis aimed at identifying the potential
contribution of national agricultural and allied sectors policy instruments to adaptation and
mitigation and the potential to (fast) scale up existing national investment initiatives in
agriculture with high climate smart potential. The screening aims to assess the extent to which
policy instruments are consistent with, take account of and / or would potentially contribute to
adaptation to slow onset climate change and extreme events due to climate change, and
mitigation of climate change. It is intended that this screening can assist in the identification of
policy components that are ‘climate smart’ and to guide potential transformation of existing and
new projects and programmes into climates smart agriculture interventions.
For each policy, strategy and programme, a matrix listing the activities in each is designed in
order to make it easier to highlight the CSA implications. It is also noted if there are major
projects (at national level or implemented at wide scale) within these policy instruments. The
matrix is used to perform a set of CSA tests: (i) Climate smartness of policy instruments (ii) CSA
investments priority areas (iii) Country policy environment for CSA investments. The matrix
also attempts to answer the following:
i) What are the key CSA policies and activities in the country?
ii) Who are the stakeholders involved in CSA activities, and how are they involved?
Who were the initiators of such activities?
iii) How effective have those activities and policies been? Why or why not?
iv) How have they had an impact on gender equity and on social equity more
generally?
v) What are the key challenges to implementing CSA in this country?
vi) What opportunities remain untapped, and why? How could they be explored?
3.1.1. Climate smartness of planned investments test
This evaluation of the climate smartness of national policies, is based on estimating the
contribution of programmes/sub-programmes to adaptation and mitigation. The evaluation
consists of identifying the potential adaptation (slow onset and extreme events) and mitigation
(GHG reduction, C sequestration, and GHG reduction contribution of each programme/sub-
programme through increased production efficiency. The evaluation is conducted on the basis of
the general international consensus of the impacts of various agricultural and allied sectors
activities on adaptation and mitigation based on available literature.
The plans are also screened in order to verify if there are programmes/sub-programmes with
explicit adaptation and/or mitigation goals factored in, or if the plan has identified climate
variability and change as a problem, either explicitly/directly or indirectly (e.g. increased water
shortages; increased land degradation; increased pest and diseases which may be caused by
climate change), but only in a qualitative way.
3.1.2. CSA investments priority areas test
This second evaluation takes into account the investment areas which are considered as CSA
priorities both at general level (for all farming systems in all agro ecological zones) and at
national level (i.e. specific priorities identified with reference to the local climate conditions).
This examines agricultural and allied sectors policies by evaluating programmes’ allocation of
resources/costs to investment areas which are considered as strategic priorities for CSA
production – as they can contribute to improve food production and adaptation capacity while
delivering mitigation benefits – namely: production, value chain, research and capacity building,
institutional support, infrastructure, welfare and disaster management. This categorization helps
identifying investments that are intended to finance the production phase of the value chain, the
post-production phase (i.e. marketing, storage and processing) and the supporting institutions,
infrastructure and knowledge.
On the ‘production’ side, the analysis accounts for the investments planned in the area of
sustainable land management including pasture and grazing management, improved water
management such as irrigation, increased fertilizer use efficiency, improved seed production and
use, and improved livestock management. All these investments are expected to increase crop
yields, and animal productivity, but also contribute to sequester soil and biomass carbon and
increase resilience of farming systems. On the ‘post-production’ side, the analysis takes into
account all investments on marketing, storage and processing as they are expected to increase the
efficiency of the post-production phases (therefore reducing food losses and GHG emissions).
The analysis also considers investments which can provide farmers with knowledge and
technical support as well as enhanced infrastructure as this is expected to help them reduce their
vulnerability, therefore enhancing their adaptation capacity. Lastly, the analysis identifies
investments that are intended specifically to improve social welfare and to manage risk, as these
are key elements to be considered on the adaptation side.
4. Evaluation of the country’s policy environment for CSA investments
This evaluation considers aspects which are key in driving investment choices in agriculture,
such as: private sector readiness, country policy environment, successful experiences of ongoing
agriculture projects/programmes and institutional capacity. For instance, ‘potential for quick
deployment’. This is a qualitative evaluation that takes into account the ‘potential for quick
deployment’ of CSA investments in the country and includes different elements: first,
consistency of CSA related activities with policies and development strategies/plans in the
agriculture sector (e.g. food security and nutrition strategy, rural credit, land tenure) and with
policies in other closely related sectors (e.g. enterprise and business policy, trade); second,
presence of a successful basis to draw on, such as ongoing subsides or donor projects – that are
national or large in scale, - which might demonstrate what works and how, or other initiatives
which could make easier and faster scaling up of climate smart programmes; third, strengths and
weaknesses of country institutional capacity of agriculture sector (which may be key for the
implementation of scaled up CSA investments).
5. Results and Discussion
Botswana’s greenhouse gases emissions sum up to 5% of Africa’s 3.8% of global emission.
Sectors contributing to GHG emissions include energy, agriculture, waste land-use change and
forestry. Botswana’s GHG emission was 7,362Gg CO2eq in 2000 and removal was 42,941 Gg
CO2eq. The net emission after accounting for the removal was -35,779 Gg CO2eq, thus
indicating that Botswana was a net sink in 2000. The distribution of greenhouse gas emissions by
gases in 2000 indicates that carbon dioxide is the major greenhouse gas constituting 98.3% and
methane only 1.7% of the greenhouse gases. Agriculture contributes 24% of the nation’s
emissions, highlighting the importance of climate smart agriculture if sustainable food
production is to be achieved (Table 1).
5.1.Institutional Infrastructure for Climate Change in Botswana
5.1.1. International Conventions and Protocols
Botswana is not spared by climate change, its impacts and associated challenges facing the world
today and developing countries. As such Botswana is a founding signatory of the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at Rio de Janeiro in June 1992. The
objective of being party to the UNFCCC is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the
atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate
system. Botswana ratified the Convention on 27 January 1994 and it came into force for
Botswana on 27 April 1994. The Kyoto Protocol legally binds industrialized country parties to
reduce their emissions levels by 5% from the 1990 levels. In August 3rd, 2003, the country
became a party to the Kyoto Protocol which came into effect in February 2005. As a developing
country, Botswana has no obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but has obligation
under the convention to report on the anthropogenic sources and sinks of greenhouse gases and
identify measures to minimize the impacts of global warming and climate change. The initial
national communication was developed and submitted to the UNFCCC in 2001. The preparation
of the third national preparation has been completed and the report is undergoing final review.
5.1.2. National Climate Change Focal Point
Botswana is fully committed to the full implementation of global initiatives outlined in the
UNFCCC hence the establishment of the national focal point at the Department of
Meteorological Services (DMS) under the Ministry of Environment Wildlife and Tourism to
coordinate and implement climate change initiatives. One of the initiatives was to set up a multi-
sectoral National Committee on Climate Change (NCCC) in 1995 to provide among other duties
guidance on development areas, facilitate national research programmes concerning global
warming and climate change and advise government. As one of the tasks the committee oversees
the preparation of the National Communications to UNFCCC.
5.1.3. Botswana Designated National Authority (DNA)
Mitigating climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions has become one of Botswana’s
priorities. Therefore Botswana has made some effort to embark on the opportunities provided by
the Kyoto Protocol specifically through participation in the Clean Development Mechanism
(CDM) and Emissions Trading (ET). To benefit from the Clean Development Mechanism of the
Kyoto Protocol of the Climate Change Convention, The Ministry of Environment Wildlife and
Tourism with the assistance of the World Bank Carbon Finance established a Designated
National Authority (DNA) at the Department of Meteorological Services in November 2007. A
legislating instrument mandated the Department to implement the clean development
mechanism, register, approve project proposals and assess their ability to meet the set sustainable
development criteria, “National Meteorological Service Act 2009”.
The first years of the DNA establishment were dedicated to institutional arrangement and
capacity building with one benchmarking mission to Brazil in 2008. In 2010 a 3 year institutional
strengthening project started between Botswana DNA and United Nations Environment Program
– Risoe Centre (URC) based in Denmark. EECG, a consultancy company was contracted to
provide technical assistance for identifying, developing and process of registration of CDM
projects in Botswana. The outcomes anticipated through this partnership is to build a national
CDM project portfolio, market potential projects at the international Carbon Expos, to enable
Botswana to penetrate the carbon market and register CDM projects by the end of 2012.
5.1.4. Technical Committee to Review Projects
The NCCC has also been given among its duties to evaluate CDM projects for compliance with
Botswana’s sustainable development criteria. Its representation comprises of membership from
the following Ministries and organizations:
• Ministry of Environment Wildlife and Tourism
• Ministry of Trade and Industry
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
• Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources
• Ministry of Finance and Development Planning
• Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology
• Ministry of Finance and Development Planning
• Ministry of Works and Transport
• Ministry of Agriculture
• Ministry of Lands and Housing
• Ministry of Health
• Attorney General’s Chambers
• Parastatals
• Academia
• Botswana Confederation of Commerce, Industry and Manpower (BOCCIM).
The committee may establish working groups of definite duration inviting individuals of
recognized knowledge in their fields of expertise. The committee may also collaborate with
members of the public or private bodies and entities of the civil society to perform its functions.
As a focal point to the UNFCCC, the Department also serves as the secretariat of the NCCC by
providing technical and administrative support to the work of the committee.
5.1.5. New Market Mechanisms
The role of CDM has changed globally due to low demand for CERs in the carbon markets. EU
has decided that new non-LDC projects that are not registered by the end of 2012 will not be
eligible for inclusion in the EU ETS. This 2012 deadline makes future sustainability of CDM a
challenge and exacerbates uncertainty for CERs generated from non-LDCs like Botswana.
As a way forward there is an increased drive towards new market-based mechanism which will
be governed by international rules, maintain environmental integrity and possess local content
and implementation. One of these new market mechanisms being negotiated and taking shape is
the Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) and Monitoring Reporting Verification
(MRV) architecture. The NAMAs allow developing countries to make voluntary submissions of
information on their mitigation actions to the NAMA registry and source support from developed
countries to prepare and implement the NAMAs.
While Botswana is currently in the process of implementing CDM, the country is similarly keen
to take advantage of opportunities presented by NAMAs. Project ideas in the pipeline could be
explored further and submitted in the NAMA registry for NAMA preparation. Potential sectors
for NAMAs in Botswana are energy, waste, and mining and policy development which could all
be synergized with national developmental goals for their success. With the advent of climate
smart agriculture with its synergies of attaining food security, adaptation, and mitigation,
agriculture could be also a potential sector for NAMAs.
With more than 50% of the country’s population largely dependent on subsistence crop and
livestock farming, climate smart agriculture offer an opportunity not only to increase food
production but in a sustainable manner. The principal crops grown are sorghum, maize, and
millet and pulses. In 2009 sorghum and maize production were 32,000 tons and 10,000 tons,
respectively. Cattle rearing is extensively practiced in Botswana with total cattle population
varies between 2-3million (CSO, 2004). The cattle slaughter houses owned by Botswana Meat
Commission provides substantial waste to produce methane together with the waste water from
the abattoirs which are a niche for CDM opportunities in methane (CH4) generation for energy
and avoidance.
5.1.6. Key CSA Policies in the Country
Comparable to climate change, sustainable development and other mechanisms aimed at the
preservation of the Earth and its resources for the sustenance of humanity, climate smart
agriculture is a relatively new concept especially in developing countries. It was during the 2011
United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban that agriculture and specifically climate
smart agriculture gained significant recognition. Therefore, it would be unrealistic to expect
country (s) policies and activities that literally address climate change (not to mention climate
smart agriculture). By their nature policies should be broad and encompassing as possible if there
are to attain any significant impact. When communities, farmers included, make decision
regarding the amelioration of stressors to their livelihoods they do not divide these stressors into
compartments (i.e climate change, climate smart agriculture, droughts, sanitation, and so on) but
rather broadly into food security and unemployment basically. Therefore, the country’s
agricultural and allied sectors policies are not an exception to this scenario. Rather than
specifically addressing climate change and climate smart agriculture, they are instead anchored
on sustainable food production and it is rather their activities through farm-based and
comprehensive development concepts that are climate smart agriculture compliance. Hence, any
effort to push for the adoption of climate smart agriculture in the country should be built on these
already existing initiatives and activities.
Botswana has several agricultural policies and related instruments all nested on the National
Policy on Agricultural Development whose goal is to improve food security at both household
and national levels and also conserve scarce agricultural and land resources for the future (Table
2). Nevertheless, these activities were implemented under the climate smart agriculture agenda.
A first step towards the realization of climate smart agriculture would therefore entails an
analysis of the compatibility of this policy and related programmes to climate smart agriculture
framework (Figure 1). Table 3 highlights the synergy between food security, adaptation and
mitigation that is encompassed on a number of production-level programmes at sectoral level
(within the National Policy on Agricultural Development) in Botswana.
5.1.6.1.National Agricultural Policy:1991
NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL POLICY:1991
Rationale for Policy Review The National policy on Agriculture is currently under review. The need to review the policy comes
from the fact that since the launching of the first policy in 1991, a number of macro and sector specific developments as well as
international conventions and commitments, which have a bearing on agriculture, have taken place. At a macro level, Botswana
adopted Vision 2016 as an overarching strategy for social and economic development. One of the aspirations of Vision 2016 is
to eradicate absolute poverty by the year 2016. In addition, Botswana adopted a National Strategy for Poverty Reduction
(NSPR) in 2003, to allow for a coordinated approach to poverty reduction. Given the high incidence of poverty in rural areas,
agriculture has a role to play in contributing to the achievement of poverty reduction targets. The introduction of the 10 percent
Value Added Tax (VAT) as a broad-based tax on consumption in 2002 was another important development with a direct
bearing on agriculture. In an effort to support the agricultural sector, a number of agricultural products and farming inputs were
given special treatment, through either exemption or zero rating. Botswana also adopted a crawling band exchange rate
mechanism in 2005, to replace the fixed peg regime. This was one of the measures aimed at creating an export price
competitiveness of domestically produced commodities.
Still at a macro level, economy-wide schemes such as the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) established in
2001 and the Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) established in 2004, have also extended support to agriculture through the
provision of grants, low interest loans and support services to the local industry needs of Small Medium and Micro Enterprises
encompassing training, market access facilitation, mentoring, business plan finalisation as well as facilitation and of technology
adaptation and adoption. A Young Farmers Fund (YFF) offered by CEDA was also launched, in 2006 to issue loans at lower
interest rates and longer repayment periods than the regular CEDA programme.
At a sectoral level, a number of production-level programmes, some of which were started before 1991 but ran through that
period, were targeted at different agricultural sub sectors. In arable agriculture, key programmes were the Arable Lands
Development Programme - ALDEP (1981 to 2008), Accelerated Rainfed Arable Programme ,ARAP (1985/86 to 1995/96),
National Master Plan for Arable Agriculture and Dairy Development, NAMPAADD (2002 to date) and the Integrated Support
Programme for Arable Agriculture Development, ISPAAD (2008 to date).
In the livestock sub sector, key support programmes have included the Fencing Component of the 1991 Agricultural Policy and
the Livestock Management and Infrastructure Development - LIMID (1997 to date). Market level support has involved grain
and beef state trading, respectively, under the auspices of the Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB) and the
Botswana Meat Commission (BMC). An important development was the liberalisation of the grain industry in 1991, to
improve competitiveness and to lower prices for grain. Since then, BAMB was mandated to adopt import parity pricing and its
import monopsony was removed to ensure lower staple food prices. To achieve import parity prices, BAMB currently sets
producer prices based on monthly prices posted by the South African Futures Exchanges, adjusted for transport costs, moisture,
impurities and BAMB’s mark-up. In the cattle industry, important developments included the overhauling of the livestock
industry through the passing of the Livestock Improvement Act into a law in 2009 as well as initiating the process to review the
BMC Act. Also, at a sectoral level, the government has recently made efforts to commercialize agricultural operations through
a number of initiatives. Internationally and regionally, a number of initiatives are worth recognizing in the policy development
process. Among the major ones are the Millennium Development Goals for reducing hunger and poverty by half come 2015;
the Dar-es-salaam Declaration on Agriculture and Food Security which recognizes the importance of the agricultural sector in
the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region; the Maputo declaration which requires that SADC members
states allocate at least 10 percent of their national budget to agriculture..
The National Master Plan for Arable and Dairy Development (NAMPAADD), aims to increase
the country’s food security by developing agriculture’s competitiveness and reduce the country’s
reliance on imports through a number of programmes. In the process of achieving food security,
NAMPAADD addresses adaptation to climate change through increase system resilience and
reduced vulnerability; for instance, increase in productivity due to improved management and
irrigation for both grains and pasture and addresses mitigation by practices that reclaim soil
productivity such as application of nutrient amendments.
This synergy between production, adaptation and mitigation is further reinforced by other
National Policy on Agricultural Development objectifying programmes; Integrated Support
Programme for Arable Agriculture Development (ISPAAD), whose primary objective is to
increase grain production and in the process promote food security at household and national
levels, addresses adaption due to increased crop productivity because of fertilizer use, better
seeds and improved extension service while its minimum tillage aspects addresses mitigation as
soil carbon is conserved.
National Agricultural Master Plan for Arable Agriculture and Dairy
Development (NAMPAADD) April 2002
The primary objective of the Master Plan is to develop agriculture’s competitiveness
and reduce the country’s reliance on imports of agricultural products that can be
viably produced locally. This is to be achieved through programmes hat enable
traditional/subsistence farmers to up-grade their operations to a commercial level,
and at the same time assist commercial farmers to improve their level of
management and technological application. The programme focuses on dairy,
horticulture and rainfed farming.
Increased system resilience and reduced vulnerability through increased
productivity due to improved management and irrigation (pasture and
crops)
Practices that reclaim soil productivity (e.g. applying nutrient
amendments and organic substrates such as manures, bio solids, and
composts; and retaining crop residues; and conserving water) restore C
storage in degraded lands.
The Livestock Management and Infrastructure Development (LIMID) which aims to increase
food security through improved livestock productivity invariably increase system resilience and
reduced vulnerability as it facilitates fodder production to ameliorate against droughts, and also
water development to minimize livestock water shortages. Due to improved animal conditions
methane emissions from enteric fermentation is reduced while improved grazing management
methods increase soil organic C content. The Zambezi Integrated Agro-Commercial
Development Project and Agricultural Infrastructural Development initiative (AIDI) aim to
improve food security through infrastructure development and by that increase system resilience
and reduced vulnerability because of mechanization that leads to timeliness of field operations
and also because of improved access to markets and service providers due to good
telecommunications.
The use of wastewater reuse and water harvesting for irrigation increases productivity and
minimizes the risk of crop failure whereas research and development increase food security
through development of technologies that are suited to agro-ecological conditions across the
country. These technologies are tools within a toolbox, available to the farmer to use different
tool combination depending on the prevailing environmental conditions, hence increasing system
resilience and reduced vulnerability. For instance, combining early maturing crop variety with
soil water conservation measures for late rain season. The Botswana Contributory Agricultural
Insurance Scheme will also reduce vulnerability through risk reduction and therefore increased
system resilience.
As in the agriculture sector policies, the policy instruments of allied sectors such as land and
natural resources are compatible with climate smart agriculture framework (Table 4). The
National Policy on Land Tenure addresses misuse and mismanagement of grazing resources
Zambezi Integrated Agro-Commercial Development Project
This project is in line with Vision 2016, the National Development Plan 9, and the
National Master Plan for Arable Agriculture and Dairy Development
(NAMPAADD) whose main objectives are to improve the performance of the
sector, diversify the economic base and ensure sustainable use of the country’s
natural resources. It also supports the spirit of the Forum of the Zambezi River
Basin Authorities, 2005, which encourages the eight riparian Member States
(Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and
Zambia) to present development projects that will utilize their share of allocated
water for food production in order to prevent hunger and thus enhance poverty
alleviation.
Increased system resilience and reduced vulnerability because of
mechanization for timeliness of operations and also improved yield due
to irrigation
through overstocking there by mitigating in conserving soil carbon. Savanna grasslands are
known to have significant below ground carbon stocks hence can act as carbon sinks (Conant et
al., 2001). Therefore, well managed grassland can provide ecosystems service besides grazing.
Furthermore, the National Policy on Natural Resources Conservation and Development
addresses the depletion of wood resources through unsustainable commercial harvesting of
forests, another mitigation measure. While both the National Settlement Policy and National
Policy on the Use and Management of Natural resources address conservation of natural
resources and also rights of tenure. The National Forestry Policy and Forestry Act are concerned
with integrated forest conservation and sustainable utilization of forest resources all of which
contribute to mitigation as trees are carbon sinks, but could also contribute to soil fertility
through nitrogen fixation hence contributing to food productivity and increased system
resilience.
The National Policy for Rural Development is linked to climate smart agriculture through
NAMPAADD, while the National Land Policy promotes land rights of all citizens, taking note of
those whose tenure security and access to land may be undermined by market forces, gender and
age bias, poverty, terminal illness and /or discrimination. Although Government priority is to
provide water for human consumption, where the capacity allows, water can be used for
agricultural production e.g. peri-urban uses for poultry, horticulture, piggery, dairy, ostrich
farms, processing, cleaning and storage agricultural thereby increasing productivity and
production systems resilient (National Water Policy). Herbage Preservation (Prevention of fires)
Act prevents uncontrolled burning and subsequently preserving carbon. Consequently, based on
this analysis of the country’s policies regarding their CSA compliant, it could be resolved that
Botswana is climate smart agriculture compliant at comprehensive development level based on
FAO (2010) characterization of CA stages.
5.1.6.2.CSA activities on the ground and stakeholders pushing for CSA in
Botswana
As observed from earlier sections there are several policy instruments in the agricultural and
allied sectors that resonate with climate smart agriculture although they were not formulated with
climate smart agriculture in mind. Nevertheless, some of the activities that actualize these policy
instruments CSA compliant albeit at farm level (farming technics). These technics include:
i. Minimum tillage
This technic is practiced in Pandamatenga dryland crop commercial farming area where a third
of the farmers are into it (on average a farm is 500 hectares in this area). The practice is not a
concerted effort by the farmers’ association but rather individual farmer option.
ii. Conservation agriculture
This technic is still at its infancy stage with several community trusts being trained by experts
from Botswana College of Agriculture funded by various funding agencies. Although National
Development Plan 10 (current plan) mentions it as one of the tools for increasing food
production in the country, there are no tangible activities on the ground.
iii. Irrigation and water management
As highlighted earlier, this aspect is well grounded in policy instruments, for instance, the
Zambezi Integrated Agro-Commercial Development Project and Agricultural Infrastructural
Development which is will later be cascaded down to farm level. Apart from these macro
irrigation projects, private investors are also engaged in irrigation projects particularly in the
horticultural sector.
iv. Adapted crop farming practices
Furthermore, several crop varieties with different physiological characteristics have been
released over the years to add to tools within the adaptation tool box available to farmers (Table
5). Furthermore, several applied research on water conservation for crop production have been
conducted in the country, e.g; Developing reservoir tillage technology for semi-arid
environments, Patrick et al. 2007; An investigation of tillage systems and implement design for
water conservation in semi arid conditions in Botswana, Kethobile, 2006 highlighting the
awareness and appreciation of various aspects.
v. New crop varieties
The Department of Agricultural Research is developing crop technologies that are suited to the
existing agro-ecological conditions in Botswana. These technologies come in the form of crop
varieties that exhibit different characteristics and quality attributes thus giving farmers an
opportunity to choose varieties that are best suited to the prevailing conditions. For example, in-
built into the crop varieties could be drought tolerance, pest (witchweed) resistance and high
yield. There is continued breeding and selection for earliness, drought tolerance, hybrid
combination and yield. Currently there are sorghum lines in early stages of development with
regards to early maturity. At the same time, conversion of released sorghum lines to male
sterility for potential hybrid combination is being done. The old varieties that are no longer in
production (65D, 8D, and Marupantse) are maintained and conserved for future use in the
breeding program as they may possess some favorable genes that may prove essential in the
future (Tables 5-9). The department also collaborates with international organizations in the
development of crop varieties such as CIMMYT in maize improvement.
6. Conclusion
The goal of this consultancy work is to conduct a comprehensive review of the existing climate
smart agriculture policy context in Botswana and further analyze gaps in the existing policy
frameworks. Agricultural and related sectors policy instruments objectives resonate with climate
smart agriculture framework being to address food security in a sustainable manner that results in
adaption and mitigation to climate change spin offs. Climate smart agriculture is context and
location specific, therefore, implementation of climate smart agriculture concept in the country’s
agricultural system should use the existing policy instruments as a launch pad. This approach
will not only increase chances of success but will also reduce additional funding resources. For
instance, ISPAAD pays P500.00 per hectare for minimum tillage but P800.00 for conventional
tillage although minimum tillage has the potential to increase yield through soil moisture
conservation and at the same time increasing soil carbon. Thus a minor alteration to the
programme that equates minimum tillage payment with that of conventional tillage and
augmented with demonstration sites in farmers’ fields could be an option for early action on
climate smart agriculture in the country. Augmenting this action with good seeds, and fertilizer
within ISPAAD will lead to a sustainable production system.
LIMID provides an opportunity for climate smart pastoral farming through its fodder production
and water development initiatives. Apart from reducing livestock mortalities due to drought
because of supplementary feeding, research has shown that good quality fodder leads to less
cattle methane emission as opposed to poor quality. Long term investment in farm and rural
infrastructure such as roads and water development through the Zambezi Integrated Agro-
Commercial Development Project and Agricultural Infrastructural Development initiative will
further enhance the environment for climate smart agriculture in the country through irrigation
and improved communication.
Nevertheless, there is some concern as to whether these policy instruments with high potential
for climate smart agriculture will be adopted by farmers and become sustainable such that when
the subsidies that fund them are discontinued farmers would have realized the benefits and hence
continue with the practices. This concern is based on the fact that past policy instruments with
similar objectives did not leave any legacy, such that the current instruments did not build on
anything. For instance, although Arable Lands Development Programme - ALDEP (1981 to
2008), and Accelerated Rainfed Arable Programme - ARAP (1985/86 to 1995/96), had almost
similar objectives to ISPAAD and NAMPAADD, there was no residual benefits from these
programmes on which the current ones could build on. This begs a question; is there a problem
with the way we formulate our policies? That is, maybe we are missing what the farmers really
want. This work postulates that for successful in cooperation of climate smart agriculture within
current agricultural policy instruments, there is a need to evaluate the likely cause of poor uptake
of policies initiatives by farmers. Otherwise climate smart agriculture initiatives are likely to be
abandoned when policy subsidies are stopped.
In sum, although there are few farm and landscape level climate smart agriculture activities in
the country, the current agricultural and allied sectors policy instruments provide a launch pad on
which climate smart agriculture could be built from. A crucial precursor for the uptake of CA in
the country is the sensitization and institutionalization of the concept within the ministry of
agriculture through; leadership awareness of the potentials benefits of CA, training of extension
staff and other stakeholders (farmer organizations, NGOs) on CA framework. Furthermore,
minor alignment of current policy and related instruments towards CA will fast track its adoption
and implementation.
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Appendices
A.1 Table 1: GHG emissions by sector for the year 2000
Sector Co2 eq (Gg) Share of sector in total emissions (%)
Energy 5,537.923 74.5
Agriculture 1785,000 24.0
Waste 111.300 1.5
Total emissions 7434.223 100
Land-use change and forestry -42.941
Total -35506.777
Table 1: GHG emissions by sector for the year 2000
A.2 Table 2: Summary of Agricultural Policies Compatible to CSA in Botswana
Name of policy Year approved
or in force
Contact person Updated or update
planned
Available online
National Policy on
Agricultural
Development
1991 to date currently under review www.moa.gov.bw/d
ownloads/national_p
olicy_on_agric_deve
lopment.pdf
National Master
Plan for Arable
Agriculture and
Dairy Development
(NAMPAADD)
2002 to date www.agriculture.gov
.bw/downloads/nam
paadd.pdf
Integrated Support
Programme for
Arable Agriculture
Development
(ISPAAD)
2008 to date www.moa.gov.bw/d
ownloads/ISPAAD_
Guidelines1.pdf
Livestock
Improvement Act
2009 to date
Livestock
Management and
Infrastructure
Development
(LIMID)
2007 to date www.moa.gov.bw/d
ownloads/limid.pdf
Zambezi Integrated
agro-commercial
development project
2006
Agricultural
Infrastructural
Development
initiative (AIDI)
Wastewater Reuse
and Water
Harvesting for
Irrigation
2012 to present
Research and
Development
On going http://www.moa.gov.
bw/?dept=dar
Botswana
Contributory
Agricultural
Insurance Scheme
Table 2: Summary of Agricultural Policies Compatible to CSA in Botswana
A.3 Table 3: Climate smart agriculture relevancy of agricultural policies
Name of policy Climate smart
agriculture
compatibility of its
objectives/activities
Expected impact on
food security
Possible
impact on
adaptation
Possible impact on
mitigation
National Policy
on Agricultural
Development
Conserve agricultural
land resources
(Overall umbrella for
other agricultural
policy instruments
that are intended to
actualize it).
Increase overall food
security
Increased
system
resilience and
reduced
vulnerability
Practices that
reclaim soil
productivity (e.g.
applying nutrient
amendments and
organic substrates
such as manures,
bio solids, and
composts; and
retaining crop
residues; and
conserving water)
restore C storage in
degraded lands.
National Master
Plan for Arable
Agriculture and
Dairy
Development
(NAMPAADD)
i) The programme
focuses on dairy,
horticulture and
rainfed farming. ii)
Also through
production and
Training Farms
(PTFs). These must
be made to operate on
a commercial basis,
with the training
being supported by
Develop agriculture’s
competitiveness and
reduce the country’s
reliance on imports of
agricultural products
that can be viably
produced locally
through: programmes
that enable
traditional/subsistence
farmers to up-grade
their operations to a
Increased
system
resilience and
reduced
vulnerability
through
increased
productivity due
to improved
management
and irrigation
(pasture and
Practices that
reclaim soil
productivity (e.g.
applying nutrient
amendments and
organic substrates
such as manures,
bio solids, and
composts; and
retaining crop
residues; and
conserving water)
the Ministry of
Agriculture. This will
enable them to be
used for the purpose
they were originally
intended - Production
(commercial viability)
and Training
(demonstration of
appropriate
technologies for
Botswana which can
easily be replicated by
farmers).
iii) Establish
Agricultural Service
Centres (ASCs) at
each PTF. These will
be operated on a
commercial basis and
will provide the
necessary inputs for
the different sectors
that the PTFs cover.
iv) Extension
Services: To be
provided by Ministry
of Agriculture staff .
commercial level, and
at the same time assist
commercial farmers to
improve their level of
management and
technological
application.
crops)
restore C storage in
degraded lands.
Integrated
Support
Programme for
Arable
Agriculture
Development
(ISPAAD)
Aims to
commercialize
agriculture through
mechanization,
facilitates access to
farm inputs and credit
also improve
extension outreach.
Components include:
Cluster fencing,
provision of potable
water, seeds,
fertilizers, and
facilitation of access
to credit,
establishment of
Agricultural Service
The primary objectives
of ISPAAD are: i)
Increase grain
production. ii) Promote
food security at
household and national
levels.
Increased
system
resilience and
reduced
vulnerability
due increased
crop
productivity
because of
fertilizer use,
better seeds and
improved
extension
service.
Practices that
reclaim soil
productivity (e.g.
applying nutrient
amendments and
organic substrates
such as manures,
bio solids, and
composts; reducing
tillage and retaining
crop residues; and
conserving water)
restore C storage in
degraded lands.
Centres, draught
power provision (and
also pay for minimum
tillage).
Livestock
Management
and
Infrastructure
Development
(LIMID)
Composed of animal
husbandry and fodder
support, water
development,
cooperative poultry
abattoirs for small-
scale poultry
producers, small
stock, guinea fowl
and Tswana chickens.
Objectives: i)
Improve livestock and
range resource
management and
conservation ii)
Alleviate poverty and
provide safe and
hygiene poultry.
Components of
project:
i) Animal husbandry
and fodder support:
Dip tanks, spray
races, chaff cutters/
fodder processor,
kraals, crushes and
loading ramps, fodder
barn
ii)Borehole/well
equipping, drilling
and purchase and
reticulation
iii) Small stock
support (sheep and
goats)
iv) Guinea fowl
v) Tswana chickens
vi) Poultry abattoirs.
Guinea fowls, Tswana
chickens and small
sock components are
Promote food security
through improved
livestock productivity
(cattle and small stock)
Increased
system
resilience and
reduced
vulnerability
due to fodder
production to
ameliorate
against
droughts, water
development
against
livestock water
shortages
Improved animal
conditions reduce
methane emissions
from enteric
fermentation.
Improved grazing
management
methods increase
soil organic C
content
for poor resource
farmers only.
Zambezi
Integrated agro-
commercial
development
project
Component A:
Finance, design,
supply and
implementation of
infrastructure on a
Turnkey Basis
[Development of the
main water supply
and infrastructural
systems on a turnkey
basis, Component B:
Private investment of
agro-industry and
farming. Includes on-
farm water
distribution system,
agro-industries and
agricultural
machinery
Develop agricultural
production on a large
commercial scale
thereby diversifying
economic activities
Increased
system
resilience and
reduced
vulnerability
because of
mechanization
for timeliness of
operations and
also improved
yield due to
irrigation
Agricultural
Infrastructural
Development
initiative (AIDI)
Provision and
development of
infrastructure in key
areas, i.e. road,
power,
telecommunications
and water.
Increased productivity
and profitability
through better acquiring
of inputs and access to
markets
Increased
system
resilience and
reduced
vulnerability
against floods,
water shortages.
Also because of
better access to
markets and
service
providers
Wastewater
reuse and water
harvesting for
irrigation
To encourage small
scale commercial
horticulture farmers to
lead the way in the
reuse of wastewater
and bio-solids
(sludge) for
agriculture. Farms
around dams and
sewage ponds will be
irrigated (pasture ,
grain and horticultural
Improved yield to
irrigation and
supplementary
irrigation of rainfed
crops.
Increased
system
resilience and
reduced
vulnerability
because of
increased
productivity due
to irrigation
Improved
agronomic practices
increase biomass
and soil C.
cropping)
Research and
Development
There is continued
breeding and selection
for earliness, drought
tolerance, hybrid
combination and
yield. Currently there
are sorghum lines in
early stages of
development with
regards to early
maturity. See
Appendix 1 for list of
released crop
varieties. A compost
cattle breed “Mosi”
that is tolerant to local
climatic conditions
has been released.
While soil water
conservation practices
practices such as
reservoir and deep
tillage has been
demonstrated.
Increased food security
through development of
technologies that are
suited to agro-
ecological conditions in
the country.
Increased
system
resilience and
reduced
vulnerability
through the
adoption of
various
technologies for
agricultural
productivity
improvement.
These
technologies are
tools within a
tool box that
farmers can
combine to
address various
environmental
challenges. For
instance, a
combination of
early maturing
crop variety
with soil and
water
conservation
measures when
rains are late.
Improved
agronomic practices
increase biomass
and soil C.
Conservation tillage
minimizes soil
disturbance and
related soil C
losses. Soil and
water conservation
practices reduce
erosion, increase
the amount of
above-ground and
the root biomass
returned to the soil,
and improve soil
organic C
concentration.
Animal breeding
increase livestock
production
efficiency reducing
GHG emissions per
unit of product
Botswana
Contributory
Agricultural
Insurance
Scheme
Aimed at minimizing
farmers risks caused
by annual and in-
season climatic
variability and by
other extreme natural
disasters.
Increased food security
through reduced farmer
risk.
Reduced
vulnerability
through risk
reduction and
therefore
Increased
system
resilience.
Agricultural
Service Centres
(ASC are part
of ISPAAD and
NAMPAADD)
Intended to provide a
"one stop" solution
for farmers by
providing a reliable
and cost effective
supply of agricultural
Increased food security
through reduced farmer
input costs and
increased convince.
Increased
system
resilience and
reduced
vulnerability
due to access to
inputs, tractors and
implements for field
operations together
with some form of
support services.
services.
Table 3: Climate smart agriculture relevancy of agricultural policies
A.4 Table 4: Allied Sectors Policies Climate smart agriculture compatibility
Name of
policy
Year
approved
or in
force
Responsible
Ministry
Climate smart
agriculture
compatibility of its
objectives/activities
Possible
impact on
mitigation
Updated
or
update
planned
Available
online
Contact
person
National
Policy on
Land Tenure
1985 Land and
Housing
Addresses the
misuse and
mismanagement of
grazing resources by
farmers and the
problems of dual
grazing. Also
addresses
Overstocking and
the extension of
arable land were
encroaching
seriously on grazing
land
Improved
grazing
management
methods
increase soil
organic C
content
National
Policy on
Natural
Resources
Conservation
and
Development
1990 Ministry of
Environment,
Wildlife and
Tourism
Addresses the
depletion of wood
resources through
unsustainable
commercial
harvesting of forests
and as a main
source of domestic
fuel without regard
to ensuring that
yields are
sustainable. Also
increase the
effectiveness with
Forest
conservation
will increase
C sinks
which natural
resources are used
and managed, so
that beneficial
interactions are
optimized and
harmful
environmental side-
effects minimized
National
Settlement
Policy
1998 Ministry of
Local
Government
Promotes the
conservation of
natural resources for
the benefit of the
present and future
generations
Will
increase C
sink in soil
and
vegetation
National
Policy on the
Use and
Management
of Natural
resources
1999 Ministry of
Environment,
Wildlife and
Tourism
Promotes
sustainable natural
resource use while
conserving natural
resource and
functioning
ecological systems.
. Clarify rights of
tenure including
natural resource
management, use,
access and
exclusionary rights.
increase soil
organic C
content and
also gender
equality to
land and
natural
resources
utilization
National
Forestry
Policy
2000 Ministry of
Environment,
Wildlife and
Tourism
Integrated forest
conservation
including the
protection of
biodiversity, the
enhancement of soil
and water
conservation, the
social, cultural and
spiritual benefits
derived from forests
and the promotion
of recreation and
amenity values.
Forest
conservation
will increase
C sinks
National
Policy for
2002 Ministry of
Local
Increasing
agricultural
Soil
conservation
Rural
Development
Government productivity,
primarily through
NAMPAADD
and
fertilization
increase soil
C
National
Land Policy
2003 Land and
Housing
Protect and promote
land rights of all
citizens, taking note
of those whose
tenure security and
access to land may
be undermined by
market forces,
gender and age bias,
poverty, terminal
illness and /or
discrimination
Gender
equality to
land
utilization
National
Water Policy
Ministry of
Mineral
Resources
and Water
Affairs
Government priority
is to provide water
for human
consumption, and
where the capacity
allows, water can be
used for agricultural
production e.g. peri-
urban uses for
poultry,
horticulture,
piggery, dairy,
ostrich farms,
processing, cleaning
and storage
agricultural
industries.
Forestry Act
38.04
1968 Ministry of
Environment,
Wildlife and
Tourism
To ensure
sustainable
utilization of forest
resources
Forest
conservation
will increase
C sinks
Herbage
Preservation
(Prevention
of Fires) Act
– 38.02
1978 Ministry of
Environment,
Wildlife and
Tourism
To prevent
uncontrolled
burning
Will
increase C
sinks
Table 4: Allied Sectors Policies Climate smart agriculture compatibility
A.5 Table 5: Released and pre-released sorghum varieties
Variety Seed
color
Maturity Plant
Height
(m)
Days to 50%
flowering
Phofu Cream Medium
115-125 days
Semi-
dwarf
60-65
Mahube Red Early
100-125 days
Dwarf
(0.9-1)
52-63
Mmabaitse Cream
white
spotted
Medium
125-130 days
Semi-
dwarf
(1.1-1.3)
60-70
Segaolane White Medium
125-130 days
Semi-
dwarf
(1.5-1.8)
60-65
Town Light red Late
125-130
Tall
(2.0-2.4)
65-70
BSH1 Cream Medium
120-130 days
Semi-
dwarf
(1.3-1.6)
68-78
Marupantse Red/white Medium
125-130 days
Semi-
dwarf
(1.5-1.8)
65-70
65D White Early
65-100 days
Semi-
dwarf
(0.9-1.2)
55-62
8D Red Early
80-105 days
Dwarf
(0.8-0.9)
50-60
New
Hybrid
Cream
white
120 - 130 Semi-
dwarf
65-75
Striga
tolerant
variety
White 80-85 Semi-
dwarf
50-55
Striga
tolerant
variety
White 85-90 Semi-
dwarf
55-60
Table 5: Released and pre-released sorghum varieties
A.6 Table 6: Release and pre-released maize varieties
Cultivator Days to maturity Colour
Kalahari Early Pearl (KEP) 120-130 White
ZM 309 90-100 White
ZM401 90-100 White
ZM 523 120-130 White
New Maize Hybrid 120-130 White
Table 6: Release and pre-released maize varieties
A.7 Table 7: Released and pre-released cowpea varieties
VARIETY DAYS TO
FLOWERING
DAYS TO
MATURITY
SEED
COLOR
OTHER
ATTRIBUTES
Blackeye 50-55 80-85 White with
blackeye
Medium Maturing
Tswana 60-70 110-120 Tan Late maturity
Drought tolerant
ER7 45-50 60-68 Cream Early maturing
INIA37 50-55 65-70 Purple Early
INIA70 60 80-85 Tan Medium Maturing
INIA71 50-60 80-85 Tan Medium Maturing
INIA30 50-60 80-85 Tan Medium Maturing
DAR06-5 45-50 65-70 Cream Early maturing
drought tolerant
IT95K-635-3-2 49 75 Cream Medium maturing
Table 7: Released and pre-released cowpea varieties
A.8 Table 8: Released groundnut varieties
VARIETY DAYS TO MATURITY SEED COLOR SEED SIZE
Peolwane 120-130 Tan Small
Sellie 120-130 Tan Medium
Tsosabana 120-130 Tan Small
Nakwana 120-130 Tan Small
Table 8: Released groundnut varieties
A.9 Table 9: Released Bambara varieties
VARIETY DAYS TO MATURITY
AFTER PLANTING
SEED COLOR SEED SIZE
Keledi 120-150 Cream with
butterfly shaped
eye
Medium
Mokgalo 120-150 Maroon Medium
Table 9: Released Bambara varieties