To address and address global environmental concerns, the Botswana National Development Bank (NDB) launched the Green Energy Transition for Sustainable Agriculture project on Thursday in Gaborone, Botswana, in partnership with Germany and Deutsche Gesellschaft for Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the major German development agency.

At the launch ceremony, Ogone Madisa, NDB chief executive officer said, “The carbon footprint estimates indicate that net global greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, forestry, and other land use are about 24 percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions, with 25 percent attributable to electricity and heat production.”

According to her, data show that the world must address the climate change challenge with far greater ambition, and climate finance is essential for reducing the effects of a changing climate and minimizing their negative repercussions.

With the help of green technology and smart farming, the program aims to give subsidies to small and medium-sized off-grid farmers and horticulture producers in Botswana in order to enhance agricultural and horticultural production while lowering greenhouse gas emissions and practicing sustainable farming.

The program is being funded with 850,000 euros (approximately 931,000 US dollars) by the International Climate program of the German Ministry of the Environment. The GIZ team will provide technical support to Botswana as part of the project’s implementation.

Solar engine replacement, solar water pump installation, solar heating, cooling, and lighting, energy-saving technologies, water-efficient irrigation and regulated farming conditions, and energy efficiency would be the financing priority sectors.

Farmers who offer the best solution for the environment will be given a 65 percent subsidy and need to contribute 35 percent of their own funds.