A major shortfall in domestic production could force Botswana to rely on massive importation of grains in the near future, news reports said on Friday. "We can expect that there will be very little domestic grain production and therefore much of the domestic grain requirements estimated at about 250,000 mt will have to be secured through imports," Agricultural Minister Johnny Swartz told Parliament on Wednesday.
He said that the agricultural ministry was still awaiting the Drought Assessment Report. "The outlook for 2001-2001 cropping season is very bleak. There has been very limited ploughing and planting because of poor rains in most parts of the country, particularly the southern districts, where most rain-fed crops are grown," Swartz warned.
In its February food security update, the Southern African Development Community's (SADC) Regional Early Warning Unit forecasted very poor harvests in the 2001-2002 season for Botswana.
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