The Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB) has appointed seasoned agricultural economist Mrs Lilian Costa Scheepers as its new Chief Executive Officer, a move expected to strengthen the institution’s role in market efficiency, food security and farmer support.
In a statement announcing the appointment, BAMB said Mrs Costa Scheepers brings over 25 years of experience in agricultural development, finance, market systems and institutional transformation, positioning her well to lead the parastatal at a critical stage of its evolution.
An economist by training, Mrs Costa Scheepers holds an MBA from the College of Agriculture at the University of São Paulo (ESALQ) in Brazil. Her professional career spans Botswana and Brazil, where she has consistently focused on strengthening agricultural markets, improving farmer productivity and viability, and building institutions that support long-term sector growth.
She is widely recognised for her contribution to the development of Botswana’s grain sector, having held leadership roles at the Pandamatenga Commercial Farmers Association, the Botswana Grain Producers Association, and the Interim Botswana Agronomic Board. Through these roles, she played a central part in national efforts to modernise agricultural governance and improve coordination within the grain value chain.
BAMB said her appointment comes at a pivotal time for the organisation, as it intensifies reforms aimed at enhancing operational accountability, improving market efficiency and ensuring meaningful support to farmers across the country. The parastatal has in recent years faced increasing pressure to modernise its operations and better align with national food security priorities.
“Mrs Costa Scheepers’ deep understanding of Botswana’s agricultural value chains, combined with her experience in governance, stakeholder engagement and ethical leadership, positions her to guide BAMB through its next phase of institutional stability and performance improvement,” the board said.
Her leadership is expected to reinforce BAMB’s mandate of supporting farmers and agro-industry players, while ensuring the reliable marketing and distribution of strategic grain reserves. The organisation plays a critical role in stabilising agricultural markets and safeguarding Botswana’s food supply, particularly in the face of climate variability and global supply disruptions.
As BAMB positions itself to respond to emerging challenges such as climate change, rising input costs and shifting regional markets, the new CEO is expected to prioritise institutional efficiency, stronger partnerships with producers, and a renewed focus on sustainable agricultural growth.
Scheepers assumes leadership of an institution that has been central to Botswana’s food system since its establishment in 1973, with expectations high that her tenure will further strengthen BAMB’s contribution to national development and food security.
