Botswana citrus expansion could supply proposed new regional processing market
According to Botswana’s Investment and Trade Centre, the country's citrus industry is positioning for another significant growth phase, with Selebi-Phikwe Citrus planning a major orchard expansion near Dikgatlhong Dam and potentially supplying a proposed Schweppes agro-processing facility.
For Southern Africa’s fresh produce sector, the development points to a broader regional trend: growing primary production being linked more closely with local processing capacity, creating additional outlets beyond the fresh export market.
Orchard expansion gathers pace
Selebi-Phikwe Citrus is separately negotiating for about 1,300 hectares of land held by the Lesabokwe Trust, which represents Robelela, Tshokwe and surrounding communities. The company already operates a 1,840-hectare farm east of Selebi-Phikwe, producing navel and Valencia oranges, grapefruit, lemons and mandarins for domestic and export markets. It has also announced a further P500 million investment to increase production capacity.
Chief executive Pieter Scholtz said: “This next phase will see an additional P500 million investment, and we expect it to create 1,500 new jobs.”
Production has expanded rapidly since the project began, rising from about 5,000 tonnes in its first season to more than 20,000 tonnes, with further growth targeted as new plantings come into production.
Schweppes plant could add a new market
At the same time, consultations are under way to allocate roughly 800 hectares in the same Dikgatlhong area to Schweppes for a proposed agro-processing operation.
According to FreshPlaza, the two developments are being viewed as complementary: the processing plant could create a new local purchasing channel, while Selebi-Phikwe Citrus would gain an industrial market alongside its existing domestic and export programmes. No formal offtake agreement has yet been announced, and details on possible volumes, pricing or supply specifications have not been disclosed. Both developments remain subject to land negotiations and regulatory approvals.