Today, farmers in Botswana face a risk landscape that is more challenging than ever before. Drought, unpredictable weather, rising input costs, water scarcity, disease threats, equipment dependency, theft, fire, and volatile markets all threaten the sustainability of farming operations.

For many, the real challenge is not only how to produce, but how to withstand and recover when disruption inevitably strikes.

Farming in a changing risk environment

Botswana’s semi-arid climate makes agriculture particularly vulnerable to climate change and drought. Recent research on agricultural drought monitoring in Botswana notes that the country’s climate conditions make it vulnerable to climate change, especially drought, which threatens agricultural productivity.

This is not a concern to be taken lightly, drought and erratic weather affect grazing, crop yields, livestock health, water availability, farm planning and household income. For smallholder farmers, the pressure can be even greater because they often have limited access to finance, technology, infrastructure and market support.

A 2024 review of sustainable crop production in Botswana found that adverse weather, climate-related pressures, low adoption of improved technologies, funding constraints, infrastructure gaps, knowledge dissemination challenges and market access limitations continue to affect sustainable crop production.

This matters because farming is not a single activity. It is a chain of assets, people, inputs, equipment, infrastructure and timing. When one part of that chain is disrupted, the entire farming operation can be affected.

Sustainability is not only environmental.

When we speak about sustainable farming, the conversation often focuses on climate, soil, water and production methods. These are critical. But there is another part of sustainability that deserves equal attention: the farmer’s ability to recover from loss.

A farm can be environmentally responsible yet still financially vulnerable.

A farmer may invest in better equipment, efficient irrigation, strong fencing, quality livestock or improved systems. Yet a single fire, theft, machinery breakdown, storm or loss of livestock can quickly threaten the entire operation.

That is why risk readiness must be part of every farming business.

It is about asking practical questions before loss happens:

What are the assets that keep the farm running? Which losses would be hardest to recover from? What would happen if critical equipment failed during a peak production period? How would theft, fire or accidental damage affect operations? Is the farm protected in a way that reflects how the business actually works?

These are not just insurance questions, they are questions of business survival.

Agriculture depends on assets that must be protected

Modern farming relies on more than land and labour. It increasingly depends on machinery, vehicles, irrigation systems, electronic equipment, storage facilities, farm buildings, tools, livestock and other operational assets.

These assets are costly to acquire and often impossible to replace at short notice.

When they are damaged or lost, the impact can extend beyond repair costs. It can affect production timelines, cash flow, worker productivity, customer commitments and the farmer’s ability to prepare for the next season.

Old Mutual’s agricultural insurance expertise recognises that agricultural risk has changed significantly, with both natural and man-made risks affecting the long-term sustainability of farming businesses.

For any farmer seeking to build a more resilient operation, comprehensive risk protection is no longer a luxury—it is essential.

Where AgriPlus fits in

Old Mutual’s AgriPlus is designed to support farmers by helping them protect the personal and business assets that are central to their farming operations.

The strength of AgriPlus is that it recognises farming as both a livelihood and a business. It provides cover options that can support a farmer’s broader risk management needs, including protection for farming business assets and personal risks within one insurance solution. Old Mutual’s AgriPlus offering has been positioned around wide cover options for personal and farming business risks within one product.

Depending on the cover selected, agricultural insurance can support protection for areas such as farm buildings, household contents, vehicles, machinery, irrigation systems, theft, accidental damage and other farming-related assets.

This matters because risk is never experienced in isolation. One incident can cascade through home, business, equipment, production, and income—all at once.

Old Mutual AgriPlus helps farmers think about risk more holistically.

From reaction to readiness

Insurance cannot remove every challenge facing agriculture. It cannot stop drought, lower input costs, create markets or solve infrastructure gaps.

But it can help farmers protect what they have built, reduce the financial impact of insured losses, and help them plan with greater confidence, knowing they have a business continuity strategy.


For farmers seeking to commercialise, expand, or boost productivity, risk protection is non-negotiable. Growth demands investment. Investment brings exposure. Exposure demands protection.

Supporting the people behind Botswana’s food future

Botswana’s agricultural future will depend on many things: climate adaptation, water management, finance, technology, extension support, infrastructure, markets and strong farmer participation.

But it will also depend on how well we protect the people and assets behind the sector.

At Old Mutual Botswana, we understand that farming is more than production. It is planning, sacrifice, resilience, risk and responsibility. Through AgriPlus, we aim to support farmers with practical insurance solutions that help them protect their operations and recover from unexpected losses.

When farmers are better protected, they can keep producing, employing, supplying, and contributing to Botswana’s growth regardless of what the future brings.

Farming will always involve uncertainty.

But uncertainty should not mean vulnerability.