Botswana Food Imports

Botswana depends heavily on food imports as a result of various constraints on the expansion of production from arable land.

Botswana food imports. Less than 5 percent of the total land area is cultivable most of the soil is poor and there is inadequate rainfall. Food beverages tobacco. Southern african customs union sacu was the main source of imports into botswana during february 2018 with south africa alone contributing 60 6 percent of total imports during the month. Fuel diamonds and machinery electrical equipment dominated imports from south africa at.

Us 808 million up by 7 4 since 2018 vehicles. Food beverages and tobacco data is updated monthly averaging 463 200 bwp mn from jan 2003 to may 2020 with 209 observations. Mineral fuels including oil. Below are exports from botswana that result in negative net exports or product trade balance deficits.

Though botswana food imports fluctuated substantially in recent years it tended to decrease through 2004 2018 period ending at 12 in 2018. The data reached an all time high of 1 061 300 bwp mn in dec 2019. In 2018 food imports for botswana was 12. Botswana imports fuel food beverages and tobacco machinery and electric equipment chemical and rubber products and vehicles.

Botswana s p7 7 billion food import bill must challenge young minds to identify niche enterprises says minister of agricultural development and food security mr karabo gare. Food beverages and tobacco data was reported at 564 200 bwp mn in may 2020. The main categories of imports include metal and metal products textiles wood and paper products machinery and electric equipment beverages and tobacco fuel food chemical and rubber products and vehicles. Its main imports partners are south africa 75 of total imports china israel namibia and zimbabwe.

Food beverages tobacco and fuel dominated imports from south africa at 25 1 percent p523 6 million and 23 7 percent. Botswana a landlocked diamond rich nation perennially relies of food imports mostly from neighboring south africa to augment relatively low local production. These negative net exports reveal product categories where foreign spending on home country botswana s goods trail batswana imports. Food comprises the commodities in sitc sections 0 food and live animals 1 beverages and tobacco and 4 animal and vegetable oils and fats and sitc division 22 oil seeds oil nuts and oil kernels.

This records an increase from the previous number of 518 500 bwp mn for apr 2020. Moreover the country is plagued by recurring drought and cattle disease outbreaks.