Agri-business and agriculture in Botswana

Cultivating growth and resilience in Botswana's agricultural sector

Agriculture is a foundational sector for Botswana, crucial for rural livelihoods, food security, economic diversification, and sustainable development. Despite facing unique challenges such as climatic variability, water scarcity, and market access issues, the sector holds immense potential for growth, innovation, and value creation. Botswana's commitment to enhancing food self-sufficiency, promoting local production, and diversifying agricultural output presents significant opportunities for both established enterprises and new ventures in farming, processing, and distribution.

At PwC Botswana, we recognise the critical role of agriculture in the nation's future. We combine our deep understanding of the local agricultural landscape with PwC's global insights and expertise in agribusiness to help farmers, processors, distributors, investors, and government entities navigate complexities, embrace sustainable practices, and unlock the sector's full potential.

The evolving landscape of agri-business in Botswana

Botswana's agricultural sector is undergoing a transformation driven by:

•  Food security imperative: A national focus on reducing reliance on imports and strengthening local food production to ensure national food security.
•  Climate change adaptation: The urgent need for climate-smart agriculture practices, efficient water management, and drought-resistant farming techniques.
• Technological adoption: Increasing interest in AgriTech, precision farming, data analytics, and mechanisation to boost productivity and efficiency.
•  Value chain development: Opportunities to enhance value addition through local processing, packaging, and branding of agricultural products (e.g. beef, horticulture).
•  Access to finance and markets: Ongoing challenges and initiatives to improve access to capital for farmers and connect local produce to broader markets, both domestic and regional.
• Youth and women empowerment: Government and private sector efforts to encourage greater participation of youth and women in agriculture through training, land allocation, and financial support.
•  Sustainability and ESG: A growing emphasis on environmentally friendly practices, responsible land use, and socially equitable supply chains.

How PwC Botswana supports your agri-business

PwC Botswana offers tailored advisory services across the entire agricultural value chain, helping clients to address challenges, leverage opportunities, and build sustainable and profitable agri-businesses.

1. Risk management and compliance

Navigate sector-specific risks, including climate volatility, market price fluctuations, biosecurity, and food safety regulations. We help develop robust risk management frameworks and ensure compliance with local and international standards.

2. Tax and regulatory advisory

Optimise your tax position and ensure compliance with Botswana's tax laws and agricultural policies. We provide advice on corporate tax, VAT, and customs duties for agricultural inputs and capital allowances.

^{3. External audit (statutory audits and assurance)}

Conduct audits across the agri-value chain: farms, inputs suppliers, agro-processors, storage facilities, and distribution entities and verify governance disclosures, internal controls, and risk management processes to support transparent stakeholder reporting.

We provide assurance on non-financial disclosures (ESG, sustainability metrics, governance) to enhance investor confidence and regulator credibility, thus ensuring reporting aligns with Botswana regulatory requirements and international standards (IFRS), delivering a coherent view of financial and sustainability performance.

4. Internal audit, risk governance and controls

Expand internal audit coverage across procurement, production, quality, supply chain, and IT systems to strengthen governance and risk management and provide independent assurance that informs strategic decision-making, protects value, and drives performance improvements.

Furthermore, we can implement risk-based testing across operational, agricultural, and data privacy controls, with concrete recommendations to elevate the control environment.

Why choose PwC Botswana for agri-business?

• Global agribusiness expertise: We leverage PwC's worldwide network, bringing best practices, innovative solutions, and specialist knowledge from leading agricultural economies.
•  Commitment to Botswana's development: We are dedicated to supporting the growth of a resilient, productive, and sustainable agricultural sector that contributes significantly to national prosperity and food security.

Partner with PwC Botswana to grow a sustainable future

Whether you are a farmer, a food processor, an investor, or a government entity driving agricultural transformation, PwC Botswana is your trusted partner in navigating the complexities and seizing the opportunities within Botswana's agri-business sector.