Bibliography

Botswana’s response to its economic recession and drought during 1981-186, reduced its domestic food supply and made the poverty of the 80% rural population much worse. Botswana must import about 60% of its staple food supply. During the 1970s and 80s Botswana had the highest growth rate of all nonoil exporting countries, but was dependent on only 1 product, diamonds, and on strong trade links with South Africa. In 1981 the diamond market faced a declining demand forcing the Government to take a series of adjustment policies to side step the potential economic crisis resulting in the successful increase of foreign exchange reserves. However, in spite of a short lived crisis, in 1982, the country began a 5-year drought that has ‘remains the most critical development issue facing Botswana’. The worst effect of the drought has been the lack of food availability forcing the Government to accept increasing amounts of food aid reaching a level 62% of the population by 1985-86. The economic crisis led the government to develop Early Warning Technical Committee (EWTC) as part of the drought relief program to monitor the drought and its effects on people’s lives. The Food Resources Department was organised for the administration of food aid in the country. Botswana’s Drought Relief Program has been effective in protecting the welfare of its most vulnerable groups, children and farmers, through such measures as diverting large amounts of funding to relief activities, the ability to attract donor support in food aid and technical assistance, the participation of the private sector, and the fact that the 1.13 million people are still a small population in a country where infrastructure is very good.