NAB bars the importation of 13 crops in December

As the year heads towards a close, the Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB) has closed the border for the importation of 13 horticultural products on the 20-crop special list for December.

This proves the nascent local horticultural sector is doing well and is most likely to meet local demand for these products.

According to a notice to all horticulture traders issued by NAB chief executive Fidelis Mwazi on 21 November, the border will be closed for the importation of all types and sizes of beetroot, butternut, cabbage and carrot, except for exclusions.

This is in line with the Agronomic Industry Act and the Namibian Horticulture Market Share Promotion Scheme rules and regulations aimed at protecting Namibian producers against unfair competition from cheap and sometimes substandard imports, according to Mwazi.

Also closed for importation for the month are all types and sizes of coloured pepper, green pepper and onion, except for exclusions.

“The border will also be closed for the importation of all types and sizes of jam tomato, cocktail/cherry/mini plum tomato and round tomato, except for exclusions,” Mwazi said in the notice.

The border is also closed for the importation of all types and sizes of watermelon, as well as sweet melons, except for exclusions, as the harvest and marketing of the local produce is already underway.

Mwazi also closed the border for the importation of all types and sizes of lettuce (iceberg), except for exclusions, although he allowed the importation of 20% spinach and English cucumber, except for exclusions, to make up for shortfalls in local production.

These are the only two crops which can be imported on a pro-rata basis for the month.

Mwazi kept the border open for the open importation of five crops.

These are gem squash, potato (washed), sweetcorn and pumpkin, of which the importation is without restriction, but is subject to the 47% market share promotion (MSP) rules.

The border has also been left open for the unrestricted importation of sweet potato, with the 47% MSP applying from 1 to 15 December only.

– email: matthew@namibian.com.na