The ban on vegetable imports will not only be extended, but possibly expanded, Botswana's Agriculture Minister Fidelis Molao said, according to Mmegi Online.
Speaking in the capital at the 40th conference of the Botswana Hospitality and Tourism Association, Molao said that the ban on imports of fruits and vegetables is a necessary step to support the country's farmers and ensure food independence.
Since its inception, the ban on the import of 16 types of vegetables has led to shortages in local markets and rising prices, worsening the financial situation of consumers who have already been hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Consumers also complained that local vegetable producers do not always provide the required quality of products, and the weakness of the supply chain leads to the lack of sale of basic vegetables such as tomatoes, onions and potatoes.
The hospitality sector hoped the ban would be eased as shortages affected restaurants, hotels and the wider tourism industry, which was already among the sectors hardest hit by COVID-19.
However, Molao said the import ban would not be lifted.
“We are where we are, we cannot look back or lament,” Molao said. “We all know how difficult it was to get groceries during the peak of Covid. If we go back to the old days, then we have learned nothing. If we open the borders, we will lose the progress we have made. Farmers have already planted plant seeds for the new market.”
The minister further stressed that Botswana's annual food import bill of 9,2 billion pesos is a major problem for the country, depriving the country of resources and employment opportunities. He said that fast and decisive action is needed.
The country's nascent agricultural industry will improve if the local market supports it.
“We have land, we have opportunities, but we don't have a market. Farmers are talking about it. As a country, we need to get the food we need from our farms and not rely on other countries. We need to connect local communities to the fields to ensure our food independence,” he said.
Molao added that the ban on vegetable imports also provides an opportunity to expand agritourism in the country.
He added: “We need to get back to supporting the growth of local food. "We shouldn't have people flying in from Europe and eating the same foods they eat at home."