The global climate change has not spared Botswana and other Southern African countries as the region experience decline on cereal crop production. Poor harvest in SADC has been associated with climate change and variability.
Botswana is however among countries in the region that is expected to be alleviated by the carry-over stocks and surplus from South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Zambia.
A recent SADC report titled ‘Climate variability accelerates food and nutrition insecurity in Southern Africa paints a gloomy picture on cereal production in the region.
The SADC report says the carry over stock is expected to buttress reduced cereal production based on the nine SADC Member States that provided cereal balance sheets for the 2018/19.
The report indicated that the region is estimated to have a cereal surplus of 6,294,000 MT compared to 7,513,000 MT for the same countries the previous year.
It also notes that the carry-over stocks and surplus from South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Zambia are compensating for those with deficits such as Botswana, ESwatini, Lesotho, and Namibia.
Meanwhile there are fears that as a result of the decline in cereal crop production prices for maize grain are likely to increase.
