Irrigated agriculture in Botswana

Abstract

Botswana’s population was estimated at 1,212,000 in 1988 and is growing at around 3.4% per year. About 50% of the population is below the age of 15. The majority of the population live in rural areas. Many able-bodied men and women in both the rural and urban areas are either underemployed or unemployed. At present about 25% of Botswana’s labour force (most of whom are in town) are unemployed. Per capita agricultural production is lagging behind the population growth rate, and employment-generation in the sector is frustratingly low. The hostile physical environment is partly responsible for the poor performance of agriculture. The recent political decision to develop irrigated agriculture is linked to the disappointing performance of rain-fed agriculture and the incapability of the livestock sub-sector, and the mining and manufacturing sectors to generate jobs and raise incomes of rural households.