Food And agriculture Organisation Country Programming Framework for Botswana
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- 2.5 Challenges
- 2.5.2 HIV/AIDS burden
- 2.5.3 The income classification status of Botswana
2.4 Policy FrameworksNational Policy on Agricultural Development: Botswana’s agricultural policy is guided by the National Policy on Agricultural Development (NPAD) of 1991. The major objectives of the policy are: improvement in food security at household and national levels, diversification of the agricultural production base, increased agricultural output and productivity, increase employment opportunities for a fast growing labour force, provision of a secure and productive environment for agricultural producers and conservation of scarce agricultural and land resources for future generation. These policy objectives have remained similar for many years, safe for the shift from food self-sufficiency to food security. During the adoption of NPAD there was a policy shift from food self-sufficiency to food security. The shift from food self-sufficiency to food security was due to recognition of the fact that: “Self-sufficiency made possible by high cost, heavily subsidised production is not what Government is seeking-nor does Government desire food self-sufficiency that does not address the need of the rural population for employment (self-sufficiency achieved by exclusive reliance on large scale commercial imports)”. Mid Term Review of National Development Plan 6, 1988:pp.87. A number of developments have taken place since the formulation of NPAD, both at the macro and sector level and these have prompted government to review the policy. Revised National Food Strategy (RNFS) - 2000: The RNFS lays down the broad based framework within which the national and household food security and economic security processes and activities are to be carried out. Its scope includes the following; providing economic access to food for households by attainment of a broad based income security; assurance of household food security; and guaranteeing food safety and nutritional security. Revised National Policy for Rural Development (RNPRD) – 2002: The main goal of RNPRD is to implement policies and strategies that will optimise people’s social and economic wellbeing and strengthen their ability to live in dignity and food security. In line with this goal, the primary objectives of RNPRD are to: reduce poverty; provide opportunities for income generation and involvement in economic activities; create employment; and enhance popular participation in development planning and implementation processes as basis for broad based, balanced and sustainable development. National Strategy for Poverty Reduction (NSPR) – 2003: Despite rapid economic growth since independence, poverty remains a major eye sore to Government, especially in the rural areas. The NSPR recognises that one of the causes of poverty in Botswana is drought and the resultant high risk for investment in farming. The Government has come up with five initiatives, which among others include, sustaining livelihoods. Under this initiative the following programmes are to be implemented: Small scale Horticulture Development; Expanding Opportunities through Rainfed Crop Production; Strengthening the Community Based Natural Resources Management Programme; Creating Employment Opportunities in Tourism Industry and Building Capacity for Small and Medium Citizen Businesses. The main purpose of these programmes is to enhance income generating opportunities for the poor. The projects chosen were identified by the poor themselves as having potential to strengthen their technical and operational capacities, increase self-sufficiency and promote economically sustainable employment opportunities. Poverty Eradication Strategy (PES) - 2009: Since 2009, government has intensified its effort to eradicate poverty, with a shift from poverty reduction to poverty eradication. The coordination of poverty eradication efforts which cuts across different sectors is now coordinated by the Office of the President. The Government has set up a Poverty Eradication Programme whose main aim is to improve the livelihoods of its citizens by addressing all aspects of poverty including among others; the policy environment; the institutional framework and establishment of sustainable economic empowerment projects. The programme will help in attaining food security and at minimum sustainable livelihoods amongst the disadvantaged individuals and/or families. There are a number of components under the programme and in agriculture they include; backyard gardening; small stock and beekeeping projects. 2.5 Challenges2.5.1 Pervasive PovertyThe key features of the poverty problem in Botswana are population concentration in rural areas, lack of access to productive resources and assets such as livestock, finance and housing. The vulnerability to poverty is highest amongst the young and old, households with little or no education and training and female headed households. The other concerns are to do with policy and institutional issues. Examples of these are weak data collection capabilities as are the technical & oversight capabilities of the Multi-Sectorial Committee on Poverty Reduction (MSCPR) and the National Strategy for Poverty Reduction (NSPR). In keeping with its mandate, the FAO major involvement would be in area of poverty and hunger reduction as spelt out in MDG 1. This may be pursued through improving agricultural productivity, promoting better nutritional practices and the promotion of programmes which enhance direct and immediate access to food by those in highest need. 2.5.2 HIV/AIDS burdenThe HIV & AIDS burden has cut the life expectancy of the population by almost 20 years from a peak of 67 years in the 90’s (HDR 2007/2008). A lot of resources have had to be diverted to arrest this challenge. A fully fledged coordinating organ called the National Aids Coordinating Agency (NACA) was established to channel resources into managing this plague. The burden to the entire economy is still real as the group hardest hit includes the most active in the society i.e. the working class. The cost to both industrial and agricultural production has not fully recovered to date. 2.5.3 The income classification status of BotswanaThe classification of Botswana as a middle income country has meant that donor presence has been very limited due to pressure exerted by donors to increase their proportion of funds to more Least Developed Countries from Middle Income Countries. As of now, the OECD/DAC donor countries inside the country include; UK, USA, Japan and the EU. These donors provided a gross ODA of USD97 million between 2006 and 2007. The bulk (74%) of this assistance came from the EU and USA and was directed to support the government’s effort in combating HIV/AIDS and action relating to the servicing of external debt as shown in Table 1. Table 1 Donor presence and total assistance in Botswana
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