This document summarizes a presentation given by Botswana on soils at the 3rd African Soil Partnership meeting. It provides an overview of Botswana, describing its population, size, climate, and agriculture. It then details the major soil types in Botswana, which are predominantly Arenosols. It describes a soil mapping project in Selibe Phikwe that identified soil characteristics and distributions. The presentation outlines challenges to sustainable soil management like erosion, degradation, and lack of testing. It prioritizes developing digital soil maps, strengthening soil labs, regional information sharing, and incorporating conservation farming. Plans for 2018/2019 include mapping clusters for farmers, land rehabilitation advice, and updating the soil database.

1. 3rd African Soil Partnership (AfSP) Meeting
Country presentation: BOTSWANA
by
Name… C. M. FANANI
Institution… Ministry of Agricultural
Development and Food Security

2. CONTENTS
• OVERVIEW OF THE COUNTRY
• SOIL TYPES
• SPEDU STUDY AREA
• CHALLENGES ON SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT
• PLANS FOR 2018/19
• STRATEGIES ON SOIL

3. OVERVIEW
 Botswana is landlocked country in Southern Africa
 Population of 2,039 million
 Area 531 738 square kilometre
 Annual rainfall range of 350 – 600 millimetres per year
 Predominantly Sub tropical climate
 Agriculture provides 80% of the population but accounts
2.8% of GDP
 Cultivable land is 926 000ha
 400 000ha is cultivated
 Flood recession farming is commonly practiced along the
river.

5. SOILS IN BOTSWANA
• 73% of the country is dominated by Kalahari sands
(Arenosols)
• Vertisols –(Area 0.6%)
• Fluvisols –(Area 0.1%)
• Gleysols –(0.2%)
• Leptosols –(Area 3%)
• Regosols – (5%)
• Lixisols – (3%)
• Cambisols- (0.7%)
• Solanchaks – (1.5%)
• Calcisols –(4.2%)
• Luvisols – (5%)
• Chernozems (0.01%)

6. SPEDU STUDY AREA SOIL MAP

7. AIM OF THE PROJECT
• Selibe Phikwe Diversification unit (SPEDU) is
regional development strategy which was meant to
diversify the economy of the country as well as
creating the employment for the nation.
• The objective of the study was to investigate,
identify and describe the characteristics and
distribution of different soils in the area.
• Evaluate the suitability of the soil of the project
area for irrigation.
• Soil investigation was conducted at feasibility level
in the area in line with FAO guidelines

8. STAKE HOLDERS
• Ministry of Agriculture
• Soil surveyors
• Landuse officers
• Cartographers
• Farmers
• Soil map and a suitability maps were produced

9. CHALLENGES ON SUSTAINABLE
SOIL MANAGEMENT IN THE AREA
• Eroded agricultural land
• Human wildlife conflict-more wildlife put pressure
on the environment.
• Land degradation due to nutrient depletion
• Lack of climate and flooding hazards maps
• Lack of funds

10. CHALLENGES
• Application of fertilizers without testing soils by
farmers lead to soil pollution
• Shortage of Soil Scientists
• Shortage of soil labs-one soil lab
• The soil data base not updated.

11. PRIORITIES AND NEEDS IN
BOTSWANA
• Developing small scale digital soil maps
• Strengthening soil laboratories, through
development of analytical methodologies and
junior staff training
• Exchange experience and information regional
• Create awareness on the use fertilizers
• Incorporate conservation farming in agriculture

12. Plans for 2018/2019
• Map clusters for farmers
• To assist farmers on land rehabilitation
• Advice farmers and stakeholders on land suitability
• To update the soil data base

13. THE END
THANK YOU