Agriculture Investments

Founded in 2010, our company, Africa Agriculture (Pty) Ltd., has been focusing on promoting the mechanization of agriculture in Botswana and other African countries, and it is currently the leading enterprise in the domestic agricultural machinery market. The company’s main business scope includes agricultural machinery and equipment, smart agriculture, agricultural biotechnology, and agricultural R&D. The company has achieved good results in cooperation with local universities and research institutions in Botswana, including the University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and has played a very positive role in promoting the application of modern agricultural machinery in Botswana.

Significant Milestones and Future Trajectories

In 2020, African Agriculture (Pty) Ltd (AA) introduced China’s water-saving and drought-resistant rice varieties to Botswana. In collaboration with the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN), we organized a pilot planting project. For this endeavor, we invited esteemed professors and experts from China to collaborate with their counterparts at BUAN, creating a joint research team. BUAN students also actively participated in the project. The trial planting took place in a visible location along the A1 highway, right in front of the BUAN campus. As the rice crop matured, it transformed into a lush, green farmland that drew the attention of passersby, becoming a local attraction that people eagerly visited.

In 2021, backed by the University of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Botswana (BUAN), AA’s sister company, Drone Technology Center, was officially launched. The grand opening ceremony was graced by the Vice President of the Republic of Botswana Hon.Slumber Tsogwane.The center specializes in agricultural drones aimed at revolutionizing farming practices in Botswana by providing aerial surveying, crop monitoring, and pesticide spraying services.

In 2021, AA introduce the world’s most advanced tractors and agricultural machinery, and assemble and produce them in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana. We are immensely pleased that with the backing of the University of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Botswana and relevant government agencies, our esteemed President of the Republic of Botswana, His Excellency Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, has shown particular interest in agricultural mechanization. This interest extends specifically to local assembly, and President Masisi personally launched the first locally-assembled BHERO tractor.
In 2022, following three years of strenuous effort, setbacks, and overcoming numerous challenges, the research team successfully identified three promising rice varieties out of an initial selection of seven. These varieties were successfully harvested in June 2022. The harvest ceremony was graced by the esteemed presence of the Vice President of the Republic of Botswana Hon.Slumber Tsogwane and the Principal of the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN), marking it as a momentous occasion in the advancement of sustainable agriculture in Botswana.

At the end of 2022, aiming to elevate Botswana’s agricultural sector and relieve farmers’ financial burdens, AA entered into a strategic agreement with the National Development Bank (NDB). Under this partnership, AA has committed to subsidizing interest rates on loans that farmers take for purchasing essential agricultural machinery. The subsidy program is projected to benefit approximately 500 farmers in its initial year and has a total capital commitment of around 20 million Pula (2023).

In 2022, recognizing the gap in after-sales service for agricultural machinery in Botswana, AA invested in establishing the country’s first “Agricultural Equipment Service Center”. This center offers a one-stop solution for farmers, including but not limited to, maintenance services, spare parts, and technical advice. AA has employed certified engineers and agricultural experts to ensure top-notch service delivery.

In early 2023, to meet the rising demand for tractors and other farm equipment, AA applied to the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) for permission to expand its existing factory. After thorough review and consultation with the Ministry of Land, BITC approved AA’s request for a second phase, thereby doubling the original production capacity from 100 to 300 tractors per year. Construction is already underway.

In June 2023, AA inked a new cooperation agreement with the National Agricultural Research and Development Institute (NARDI). The partnership aims to establish Botswana’s first agricultural equipment laboratory. Here, engineers, and researchers from both AA and NARDI will collaborate on developing new, more efficient, and locally-adapted machinery.

In 2023, AA and the Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB) entered into two distinct agreements. The first, implemented in early 2023, aims to streamline after-sales services and training modules for farmers. The second, signed in September 2023, enables BAMB retail outlets to distribute BHERO products nationwide, thereby making it easier for farmers across the country to access high-quality machinery and services.

Introducing BHERO: A Brand Overview

The BHERO brand is a subsidiary brand of our company, Africa Agriculture (Pty) Ltd. The brand was established to meet the special needs of the Botswana agricultural market, particularly in terms of land and climate characteristics. The brand aims to replace traditional animal-powered farming in Botswana and become the real “hero” of Botswana’s agricultural mechanization.The BHERO brand is a subsidiary brand of our company, Africa Agriculture (Pty) Ltd. The brand was established to meet the special needs of the Botswana agricultural market, particularly in terms of land and climate characteristics. The brand aims to replace traditional animal-powered farming in Botswana and become the real “hero” of Botswana’s agricultural mechanization.

Motivation Behind the Brand

The motive behind locally manufacturing and assembling this brand is to bring hope to Batswana and motivate them to join the agricultural industry to help the country be self-reliant and food self-sufficient. This will help increase food production to meet Botswana’s food consumption demand, and reduce its ever-increasing dependency on food importation. In addition, the country is also seeking to do so while ensuring that farming is an economically viable activity with good returns to entice more of its population to engage in it, and at the same time retain the current farmers in the industry. This, however, is no longer possible through the traditional model of farming and requires the benefits that come with mechanization. Hence the motivation behind BHERO, we want to share our resources and skills with Batswana and build a sustainable economic nation.