Rainfall volatility puts Botswana’s cattle economy at risk

Sunday Standard Rainfall volatility puts Botswana’s cattle economy at risk Botswana’s cattle industry faces increasing pressure from volatile rainfall patterns that could shrink livestock herds, erode pastoral incomes and widen the gap between richer and poorer livestock owners, according to a new study published in Nature Sustainability. The researchers said poorer livestock owners could be particularly exposed because they are less able to purchase feed […] The post Rainfall volatility puts Botswana’s cattle economy at risk first appeared on Sunday Standard and is written by Sunday Standard Reporter

Sep 21, 2026 - 13:13

Sunday Standard

Rainfall volatility puts Botswana’s cattle economy at risk

Botswana’s cattle industry faces increasing pressure from volatile rainfall patterns that could shrink livestock herds, erode pastoral incomes and widen the gap between richer and poorer livestock owners, according to a new study published in Nature Sustainability. The researchers said poorer livestock owners could be particularly exposed because they are less able to purchase feed during droughts.

This could result in “stock losses and, in some cases, exit from livestock rearing altogether,” according to the study.

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