Crumbs for agriculture as food import bill bites

BAKANG TIRO

editors@thepatriot.co.bw

Figures by national statistics custodian, Statistics Botswana (SB) indicate that from Botswana’s total imports for the month of November 2022, food import bill hit P1.1 billion.

However a lower budget provision for the Ministry of Agriculture announced on Monday has dampened the spirit of observers who had hoped the sector will receive a boost from Government.

According to Statistics Botswana, Botswana’s overall import bill stands at P6.9 billion and food bill account for 16%. Statistics Botswana said beverages, spirits and vinegar accounted for 16.8%of food imports. While cereals and animal or vegetable fats, oils and their cleavage products; prepared fats; waxes followed with 15.1% and 9.3%.

Also, the national statistics custodian said among beverages, spirits and vinegar, the most imported commodity was other Beer made from malt, with an alcohol content of 5% or less, accounting for 15.1%.

Economics lecturer at BA ISAGO University Dr Lovemore Taonezvi said the import ban on vegetables has proven that the country is far from achieving food security due to supply constraints by local suppliers. He said the ban on vegetables came into effect on 1 January 2022 just before the 2022/23 financial year.

“The 2022/2023 financial year which came soon after the ban had an allocation of P1.44 billion and P959 million to the Ministry of Agriculture’s recurrent budget and development budget, respectively. In the financial year before that, that is in the 2021/2022 financial year, the allocation was P1.39 billion and P978 million to the Ministry’s recurrent budget and development budget, respectively,” he said.