Mapping Botswana’s Horticultural Growth: Spatial and Temporal Perspectives

Abstract

Over the past decades, Botswana’s horticultural sector has grown steadily, supported by Botswana Government Policies and market demand. Despite this progress, evidence on spatial and temporal production patterns remains limited. This study analyzes horticultural crop production across ten main districts of Botswana between 2021 and 2023, focusing on land utilization, yields, and productivity. Results reveal significant (P < 0.05) across districts and years, with Central District dominating in both cultivated area and output. Vegetables accounted for more than 90% of total production, reflecting their shorter growing cycles and higher market demand compared to fruits. While some districts such as Kgalagadi and North East recorded minimal contributions, emerging projects like the Selibe Phikwe Citrus initiative highlight potential for fruit expansion. Productivity gains in districts such as Chobe demonstrate the importance of efficient land-use practices. Production improved by 34% between 2021 and 2023, marking a substantial increase compared to earlier years. Potatoes, cabbage, onion, tomato, and carrot emerged as the five best-performing crops, consistently contributing the highest yields and shaping Botswana’s horticultural output. Strategic interventions in irrigation, technology transfer, and crop diversification are recommended to sustain productivity and align with Botswana’s Vision 2036 goals.