CEDA Targets Food Security
The Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) has reaffirmed agriculture as one of its key strategic investment sectors, unveiling a broad suite of financing products aimed at boosting food production, creating jobs and strengthening Botswana’s agricultural value chains. Speaking during Dikgafela 2026 at the Tlokweng Kgotla, under the theme ‘Financing Farmers, Growing Botswana, Securing Our Future’ CEDA Caretaker Chief Executive Officer Khalala Mokefane said agriculture remains critical to economic transformation agenda and long-term development objectives. Mokefane said the sector plays a vital role in food security, import substitution, employment creation, rural economic development, citizen economic empowerment, climate resilience and export growth, while supporting the objectives of the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP) and Vision 2036. “Our approach is to finance the entire agricultural value chain, from production through to processing and markets,” he said.
To support this strategy, CEDA has developed a range of specialised financing products targeting different segments of the agricultural sector. Among these is the Young Farmers Fund, which provides concessionary financing and business development support to citizens aged between 18 and 35. The fund supports crop and livestock production, irrigation projects, farm infrastructure and agricultural machinery. CEDA also continues to provide funding through its Agricultural Fund, the agency’s flagship commercial agriculture financing facility.
The fund supports crop farming, livestock production, horticulture, farm development, mechanisation, irrigation systems, infrastructure and working capital requirements for both new and expanding agricultural enterprises. In horticulture, CEDA-financed farmers are being integrated into the Letsema Horticulture Market Programme, which offers guaranteed market access, collection centres, aggregation services, market intelligence and linkages to buyers. The programme is intended to reduce post-harvest losses while improving market opportunities for local producers. Additional support is available through the Citizen Entrepreneur Loan, Property Improvement Finance and Equipment and Machinery Finance facilities, which fund farm infrastructure, boreholes, irrigation systems, cold rooms, warehouses, tractors, harvesters, planters and other essential agricultural equipment. CEDA’s financing covers a wide range of crop production activities, including vegetables, fruits, field crops, greenhouse farming, orchard development, seed production and agro-processing.
In animal production, the agency finances beef cattle, dairy, poultry, goats, sheep, piggery projects, ostrich farming and, where viable, aquaculture and feed production. Beyond primary production, the agency is increasingly focusing on value-chain financing, supporting processing, storage, packaging, transport, distribution, cold-chain infrastructure and export-oriented agriculture. Mokefane said CEDA’s support extends beyond providing capital, with farmers also receiving business advisory services, management training, mentorship, project monitoring, market linkages and financial management assistance.