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Namibia bans maize and palm imports from South Africa due to pest outbreaks

The agriculture ministry has announced a ban on the importation and transit of maize and palm products from South Africa.

This includes the Free State, North-East and Mpumalanga provinces.

“The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform wishes to inform producers, importers and the general public about the ban of importation, and in-transit maize and maize products, as well as palm and palm products from the Free State, North-East and Mpumalanga provinces in the Republic of South Africa,” the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

This follows the detection of palms with bud rot of and maize with Goss’ wilt in these provinces.

Goss’s wilt is a bacterial disease that infects and wilts corn plants. It also destroys leaves.

Bud rot is a disease that affects the growing tip of palm trees, resulting in the deformation of new leaves.

“The ministry hereby revokes all permits issued for the importation of aforementioned plants and plant products and suspends the issuance of new import and in-transit permits for these plants and plant products with immediate effect,” the statement reads.

This will remain in effect until a pest-free area is established in South Africa and measures to stop the pest from coming into Namibia are taken.

“The ministry will put phytosanitary measures in place to prevent the introduction of the pest in Namibia,” it says.

The ministry urges importers and the general public involved in the importation of affected plants and plant products to adhere to the notice.

It continues to monitor the situation, and updates will be made in collaboration with South Africa.

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