Mapping Botswana’s Horticultural Growth: Spatial and Temporal Perspectives

Onkgolotse G. Moatshe-Mashiqa, Patrick K. Mashiqa — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

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.

Impact of Transhumance on the Populations of Afzelia africana and the Wildlife in the National Park of Benoue North-Cameroon

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Breeding is a very important activity to the population of the North-Cameroon Region. In dry season when fodder is scarce or non-existent, breeders use leaves of Afzelia africana. This plant is a threatened woody species that is becoming rare in the northern Cameroon due to its over-exploitation in the non-protected natural areas. This situation originated from the invasion of transhumant shepherds in the Benoue National Park where fodder unavailable in the dry season. This study is aimed at investigating the impact of the transhumant shepherds on Afzelia africana in the National Park of Benoue, specifically to determine its impact on the physiology of Afzelia africana on the National Park of Benoue. The investigations of the populations (Banda, Sakdje, Gamba and Guidjiba) bordering the park have been carried out at the rate of 100 persons per village and on 17 livestock farmers. The isosceles triangular transect was used in the study and the following results were attained: 17 livestock farmers were having seen 40% have recognizing pass all the year in the park while 60% stay in the park during the dry season. Two types of transhumances exist; national and international, with the means of 13.8 in 2014 to 13 in 2017 and international with the means vary 13.8 in 2014 to 6.8 in 2017. The transhumance circuit has showed that the NPB is accessible on all sides (West, South, East, North). A. africana serves as feed and habitat to several animals in particular giraffe and Elan de Derby two endangered animals so the attendance rate is respectively 7.3 and 0.4.

Global Research in Environment and Sustainability

Mapping Botswana’s Horticultural Growth: Spatial and Temporal Perspectives

Impact of Transhumance on the Populations of Afzelia africana and the Wildlife in the National Park of Benoue North-Cameroon