Quote: Mmegi online

https://www.mmegi.bw/business/phikwe-citrus-first-harvest-due-next-month/news

Botswana, being in a dry region with little rainfall, faces challenges in large-scale agriculture. Consequently, the country has relied heavily on imports from South Africa for vegetables and fruits.

However, in the town of Selebi Phikwe, located in eastern Botswana, a citrus project is currently underway, with the first harvest scheduled for March 2024.

Selebi Phikwe, once a bustling mining town with abundant employment opportunities, faced a downturn in 2016 when the mines closed, leaving many jobless. This citrus project, which reportedly planted its first trees in 2020, appears to be part of the post-mining employment initiatives. Following the closure of the Nickel Copper Mine, various projects have been devised and implemented in this area with support from the government and NGOs.

Among them, this citrus project, initiated jointly by the Mmadinare Multi-Purpose Cooperative and Byldevallei International South Africa, plans to harvest lemons, oranges, grapefruits, and other citrus fruits. Cultivation is progressing smoothly on the farms.

Lemons are set to be the first export crop from this project, with 70% of the production slated for export worldwide. The current domestic citrus production stands at around 3,165 tons annually. There are plans to export to EU countries, the USA, Canada, China, Japan, and others in the future.

The goal is to optimize production by around 2026-2027. We look forward to the day when Botswana citrus will be seen in various countries around the world.