Ministry of Agriculture

This service allows/enables Importers and Exporters to import/export plant and plant products. The permit is administered through Plant Protection Act CAP35:02.To import/export plants, plant products you must apply for an import permit and a Phytosanitary certificate respectively issued by the Division of Plant Protection. For one to be issued a Phytosanitary certificate s/he must meet the import conditions of the importing country. The import permit is valid for 6 months and can be used for multiple entry. The Phytosanitary certificate is valid for 2 weeks and used for single entry only.

This service provides fish farmers with technical information regarding fish farming and aquaculture. General information on fish farming that entail fingerling production, fish production systems, site assessments, feeds, culture species are provided. Aquaculture pamphlets and extension manuals are availed to the clients.

Provision of technical services on land assessment for agricultural purpose, land suitability, soil fertility, land rehabilitation and land identification. The service also focuses on implementation of agricultural land use plans in collaboration with other stakeholders.

Livestock Buyers License is provided for in the Control of Livestock Industry Act CAP.36.01.  The license authorises its holder to purchase livestock for the purpose of trade in the country. Trade here means acquisition of livestock for slaughter, meat processing plants, retailers, chain shops, for commission (BMC) and other markets and this even include a farmer buying 50 or more breeding stock for the purposes of a ranch.  License issued for a particular district can be endorsed ONCE in another district of interest to the buyer to enable trading in that particular district.

A Livestock buyer’s Agent license is obtained by a buyer who is going to buy on behalf of someone who already has a livestock buyer’s license.

Livestock Producers Agent license allows its holder to collect mobs of cattle from producers and send them to Botswana Meat Commission abattoirs on their behalf. A holder of this license is permitted to charge a commission of 2.5% on revenue realized from the sales as stipulated in the act for the services offered and not more than that. Livestock Producers Agent License is provided for in the Livestock Meat Industries Act (CAP 36.03).  

This service allows clients to import animals, animal products, animal feeds, Animal/feeds Samples for research purposes etc into the country in order to achieve country wide traceability of the commodities. Animal movement can be for the following purposes; for slaughter, for rearing and translocation.  For all permits the client must return the previous permit before renewal or issuance of subsequent permits and the product or animal clear details must be provided as well as the quantity.

Origin country should not have major Notifiable diseases for such livestock e.g. foot and mouth for cattle, Avian Influenza or Newcastle for chicken and African swine fever for pigs.

The component assist Individual and cluster farmers to purchase irrigation system (drip, sprinkler, and centre pivot) which includes water conveyance lines, booster pumps but excludes engines.  Shade net material including polythene tunnels can also be provided through this service.

This assistance will be provided once every 10 years for the irrigation system. The maximum ceiling is P200 000.00. The minimum farm size for individuals and a group is one (1) hectares and two (2) hectares respectively. Individual farmers are expected to contribute 60% of the total cost farm equipment while a group is expected to pay 40%. The programme does not allow or accept contribution in kind.