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NAB snubs South Africa’s call on imports


DESPITE recent calls from South African farmers for Namibia and Botswana to open their borders for the importation of horticultural products, the Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB) maintained the importation ban on 11 of 19 products on the list.

According to a notice to all horticultural traders issued by NAB chief executive officer Fidelis Mwazi on 30 August, the ban will apply from 1 to 30 September.

Only four products – gem squashes, watermelons, sweet melons and sweetcorn – are open for importation without restriction, although the 47% market-share promotion (MSP) rules apply.

In terms of these rules, importers of fresh horticulture produce are required to source a minimum percentage of their products from Namibian producers before qualifying for an import permit in a given quarter.

“This is in line with the Agronomic Industry Act to protect Namibian producers against a glut of cheap and inferior imports,” the board says.

Four other products can be imported on a pro-rata basis, with butternuts open for importation without restriction, but the 47% MSP rules apply from 1 to 15 September only.

Only 30% of all types and sizes of English cucumbers can be imported from 1 to 15 September.

Mwazi also imposed a 30% conditional importation of all sizes of coloured peppers for the whole month, except for exclusions.

Only 20% of all types and sizes of green peppers will be allowed, except for exclusions, the NAB notice says.

The border is closed for the importation of all other crops on the list, with beetroots and washed potatoes only banned from 1 to 15 September.

Sweet potatoes cannot be imported into the country, except for 1kg to 2kg-sized group and orange sweet potatoes, the board directs.

The board says for September, the country will have enough cabbages, carrots, onions, pumpkins, round tomatoes, jam tomatoes, iceberg lettuce and spinach to meet local demand, and has imposed a ban on their importation, except for exclusions.

Mwazi says the notice is subject to change, and traders will be notified accordingly.

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