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GAME INDUSTRY TRENDS ANALYSIS 2024
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Namibia’s Vegetable Ban On South Africa A Struggle For Local Farmers
Namibia’s vegetable ban on South Africa a struggle for local farmers
By Octavia Avesca Spandiel | 4 February 2025 | 1:30 pm
South Africa’s agricultural trade with its neighbouring countries has faced significant challenges over the past few years, particularly with import restrictions imposed on the country by Namibia and Botswana.
Namibia’s ban on vegetable imports from South Africa is creating instability on the market for farmers on both sides of the border. Photo: FW Archive
However, recent developments indicate that Namibia may be moving towards lifting its long-standing ban on vegetable imports from South Africa, a move that could restore stability for farmers and traders on both sides of the border.
Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at Agbiz, said there were complexities surrounding trade relations within the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), which included Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini.
“In the recent past, some trade friction in South Africa’s trade relations with the African continent has mainly been within the SACU region, a customs union that is a free-trade zone. From around 2021, Botswana and Namibia imposed bans on South African vegetable imports to support their domestic industries. These bans added uncertainty and weighed on business,” said Sihlobo.
According to Sihlobo, while Botswana recently reversed its restrictions on vegetable imports in December 2024 following the election of President Duma Boko, Namibia has yet to take similar action.
The Namibian government has maintained that the ban is essential to protect local farmers and ensure food security within its borders. The policy, however, has faced criticism for its impact on trade stability.
Farmers face market instability
Bennie van Zyl, general manager of TLU SA, told Farmer’s Weekly that the ban by Namibia was a great concern for South African producers, as farmers needed a stable market.
“While [Namibia] reviews [the ban] on a monthly basis, it is not easy for farmers. When a farmer produces any commodity, having a stable market is crucial for profitability. You cannot play around and say one month you’re allowed to export to Namibia, but the next month you are not. This unpredictability makes it difficult for farmers to establish lasting relationships with market agents and consumers,” said Van Zyl.
He added that while he understood why Namibia had implemented the ban, a different approach was necessary.
“I understand that Namibia does this to support their farmers. However, they should be more lenient in their approach. Farmers need stability in their market process, and this back-and-forth does not make sense. The market also needs consistency to ensure produce is available on shelves for consumers,” he said.
SACU’s role in South African agricultural exports
Sihlobo said that according to trade data analysed by Agbiz, SACU was a vital market for South African agriculture, accounting for approximately 20% of the country’s agricultural exports, which were valued at US$13,2 billion (about R248 billion) in 2023.
“The only difference between the EU and SACU is the products in the export basket. The EU tends to import more fruits and wines, while the SACU basket is heavy on grains and beverages,” Sihlobo said.
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