Martin Endjala
Namibia’s horticultural exports have more than doubled in the past seven years, reaching a staggering record value of N$1.7 billion, compared to N$674 million in 2016.
According to the export destination report for Namibian fresh fruits and vegetables in the financial year 2022/23, Namibia primarily exports its fruits and vegetables to African countries, accounting for 50 percent of the total exports.
The European Union follows at 30 percent, with the United Kingdom at 16 percent.
This remarkable growth was revealed by Fidelis Mwazi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Agronomic Board of Namibia, during a presentation last week at the Namibia Tourism Board and Ghana delegation business initiative.
The initiative brought together business professionals interested in exploring the Namibian market for future investments.
Mwazi highlighted that in the 2022 financial year, the performance of Namibian fruit and vegetable trade statistics indicated that local vegetables were valued at N$313 million, with an import value of N$255 million.
In contrast, fruits were imported at a value of N$268 million, while locally traded fruits amounted to N$13 million in the previous records.
Mwazi explained that this discrepancy is due to the fact that approximately 99 percent of fresh fruits and vegetables in Namibia are imported from South Africa, with only one percent coming from Zambia and Angola.
He emphasized that the challenging climate conditions in Namibia make it difficult for farmers to cultivate fruits compared to vegetables.
“Our low fruit volumes are a result of our climate conditions. Fruits require plenty of water, which is in short supply due to low rainfall, and irrigation schemes are very expensive. Therefore, we heavily rely on our neighbouring sister country, South Africa, for these products,” he explained.
Mwazi stressed the importance of forming smart partnerships with African countries like Ghana, which experience consistent rainfall throughout the year. Such partnerships are essential for achieving Africa’s food sustainability goals.
“Africa has the potential to feed not only the entire continent but also the world. We just need to leverage smart partnerships and trade among each other, rather than focusing solely on exporting to the EU or the USA. It is very feasible,” said Mwazi.
He credited the remarkable horticultural export growth to the regulatory framework established by the Agronomic Board.
The board operates as a statutory body governed by the Agronomic Industry Act, Act No. 20 of 1992. Its mandate includes promoting the agronomic industry and facilitating the production, processing, storage, and marketing of controlled products in Namibia.
Additionally, it ensures responsive regulation, strengthens stakeholder relations, and enforces compliance.
Regarding adaptation, Mwazi urged Namibian farmers to consider cultivating crops that are better suited to the country’s climate conditions.
He cited table grapes as an example, which require only 20 millimetres of rainfall due to their adaptability.
The Agronomic Board continues to explore opportunities to enhance the agronomic industry’s resilience and sustainability for the future, including the adoption of emerging technologies and other strategies.
