Working Paper

Challenges for Agricultural Diversification in Botswana under the Proposed SADC EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)

“This paper examines the challenges Botswana’s Agriculture is likely to face
under the EU/ACP Economic Partnership Agreement(EPA). While the sector has witnessed some diversification in the past,
such success was, however, induced by the provision of government grants to investors and the use of import controls to minimize cross-border competition. It argues that, since they involve trade liberalization,EPAs should theoretically reverse the progress so far made in diversifying the country’s agriculture. The paper concludes that policymakers should opt to promote the utilization of the EU development assistance to strengthen local institutions and promote the development of sustainable diver- sification activities within the sector.”