Botswana

Potato farming in Botswana is a growing but relatively niche part of the agricultural sector. According to PotatoPro, Botswana produced approximately 3,696.62 tonnes of potatoes across 951 hectares in 2023, with an average yield of about 3,886.5 kg per hectare. Due to the country’s semi-arid climate, potato cultivation faces challenges, requiring farmers to invest in efficient irrigation systems and adopt climate-resilient potato varieties. Despite these hurdles, the demand for potatoes in Botswana continues to rise, with per capita consumption reaching around 14.59 kilograms per year in 2021, highlighting the crop’s increasing importance in local diets and agricultural production.

Potatoes were first introduced to Botswana through colonial influence from South Africa, as they are not indigenous to the region. While experimental potato farming began in the 1930s, it wasn't until the 1970s that the crop gained commercial importance.

Today, potato cultivation is mainly found in Botswana’s eastern areas, with Francistown, Mahalapye, and Serowe emerging as key production hubs. Farmers in Botswana typically grow popular potato varieties such as Mondial