Despite the government’s efforts to improve food security and reduce its food imports, figures from Statistics Botswana show a gloomy picture of the country’s quest to achieve self-sufficiency in food.
Botswana’s food import bill for the month of August 2021 came to P813,132,970 contributing 9.3 percent to the total import bill, official data shows.
In its report titled Botswana Food Imports – August 2021, Statistics Botswana says Cereals accounted for 16.3 percent of food imports, followed by Sugars and Sugar Confectionary and Preparations of Cereals at 11.1 percent and 9.2 percent respectively.
“The most imported types of Cereals during this period were Maize (corn) Other than Seed with a contribution of 45.8 percent followed by Rice, Semi-Milled or Wholly Milled, Whether or Not Polished or Glazed, at 23.2 percent,” the publication says.
Sugars, Cane Sugar, Raw, In Solid Form, Not Containing Added Flavoring or Colouring Matter contributed 71.3 percent while Sugar Confectionery (excluding Chewing Gum, including White Chocolate), Not Containing Cocoa presented 21.2 percent to the Sugars & Sugar Confectionary chapter.
Statistics Botswana is a parastatal organisation charged with responsibilities of collecting and disseminating all official statistics in Botswana.
