WATER FOR THE PEOPLE AND DEVELOPMENT “WATER FOR AGRICULTURAL USE” Presented by: OBADIA BAOLIKI MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE VENUE : SELIBE PHIKWE DATE: 09 JUNE

AGRICULTURE Agriculture accounts for about 2.3% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Food self sufficiency is 20% Livestock sub-sector contributes 80% (3 million cattle) and 20% is arable agriculture and horticultural. WATER Water is essential to all life – human, animal,, and plant. It is therefore important that adequate supplies of water be developed to sustain such life. Development of water supplies should, however, be undertaken in such a way as to preserve the hydrological balance and the biological functions of all ecosystems. This is crucial for marginal lands. 2

Agricultural Water Development MoA has established Agricultural Engineering Division responsible for the provision of agricultural water and irrigation services. Services provided include construction of earth dams for livestock and irrigation purposes. rehabilitation of hand-dug wells. The division is guided in its operations by Agricultural Water Development Policy Implementation Guidelines of 1974,reviewed in

Provision of water is primarily targeted at groups of small farmers who cannot otherwise afford their own water sources

Current Developments The section has constructed over 250 dams and rehabilitated over 200 hand dug wells in Botswana along the hardveld.  Innovative technologies and researches about rainwater harvesting are ongoing.

Bonwakatlhako Dam Location;Palapye Capacity: 2.9 millon m 3

NAMPAADD IRRIGATION PROJECT AT DIKABEYA

FARMER EXTRACTING WATER FROM A WELL

Agricultural water and NDP 10 Irrigation schemes will be established at Lotsane and Thune dams,Francistown, Tonota, Palapye, and Ghanzi using recycled effluent water.

Agricultural water and NDP 10 These projects are of significance for the diversification of economy, poverty alleviation and participation of the private sector. Use of irrigation will reduce the importation of horticultural produce which is currently about 60 percent

Zambezi Project The Zambezi Integrated Agro-commercial project will develop infrastructure to convey water and for a settlement to accommodate those participating in farming. Government has applied to draw 495 millon m 3 per annum of water from the Chobe river. This water will irrigate hectares.

Challenges Water shortages affects agriculture significantly, as all agricultural products need water for their production.Most of the water used for agricultural purposes in Botswana is underground water compared to surface water. Underground water is expensive to use because inputs used to construct water sources and extract water are expensive.

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