Classified as semi-arid, the Kalahari desert occupies 77% of Botswana's land mass leaving the country with limited supplies of fresh water, infrequent rain, and drought as its most frequent natural disaster. The value of this scarce resource is evident in the naming of the currency, pula (rain).

Botswana is therefore unable to grow sufficient food to meet its needs. This arid terrain is aggravated by climate change such that, by the government’s own figures, food production has fallen in each of the last five years. The most recent harvests were 30% below yields in 2000. The increasing dependency on food imports imposes higher prices which in turn impact particularly on the poorest households. The government is seeking to improve domestic productivity by encouraging small farmers to form collectives, offering incentives of free or subsidised seeds, fertiliser and new water boreholes.

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