The European Union (EU) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have launched the Agroecological Transitions for Horticulture in Arid Zones (ATHAZ) programme, a EUR 14 million (approximately P220 million) EU-funded initiative that will support smallholder famers in Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe to develop more resilient, productive and profitable horticulture systems.
In Botswana, the programme brings a practical focus to one of the country’s key agricultural challenges: how to produce more sustainably and profitably in a context of water scarcity and increasing climate pressures.
In complementarity with ongoing EU support for green transition and job creation in Botswana, ATHAZ will work with farmers to test and adopt solutions for sustainable agricultural production while strengthening links to markets and opportunities for value addition.
Across the three countries, ATHAZ aims to reach around 15,000 smallholder farming households, with particular attention to women and young people.
ATHAZ forms part of the EU’s broader partnership with Botswana for a more climate-resilient, competitive and inclusive agriculture sector.
EU support connects sustainable management of land and water with climate-smart production, processing, value addition and access to higher-value markets, including the EU market.
At regional level, it will also generate evidence and practical experience to inform national policies and investment in sustainable horticultural systems.
“ATHAZ builds on the recently launched programme of Green Value Chains for job creation in Botswana. The EU is proud to support this programme, because it will strengthen the capacities and competitiveness of horticulture value chain actors, particularly women- and youth-led businesses, and enable environment for business in the green economy sectors,” said Belen Calvo Uyarra, Head of Delegation the European Union to Botswana and SADC.
Building on this foundation, the EU is expanding its investment in sustainable agri-value chains, particularly horticulture and drought-resilient and high-value crops, with increased access to finance, European technology, equipment and expertise. This will create new opportunities for Botswana and European businesses and strengthen links to regional and international markets.
The programme will be implemented by IFAD, in partnership with the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) and Biovision Africa Trust (BvAT), working with national research and extension systems, farmer organisations, governments and private-sector actors.
Across Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, the programme will establish nine innovation hubs and strengthen 30 horticultural value chains, while sharing evidence and lessons to support wider uptake of successful approaches. ATHAZ will benefit from the EU supported capacity building initiative on agroecological research network in the SADC region.
By linking farmers’ knowledge and innovation with research, markets and investment, ATHAZ seeks to demonstrate how climate-resilient horticulture can become a viable pathway to stronger rural livelihoods and more sustainable food systems in Southern Africa.
