In Namibia, a significant gap exists between the self-sufficiency levels of vegetable and fruit production. The Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB) reported that local fruit production meets only about 4% of the country's needs, despite a successful increase in local vegetable production to 55% self-sufficiency. This disparity has prompted actions to enhance the fruit sector.
The Namibian Horticulture Market Share Promotion (MSP) scheme, initiated in 2005, boosted local horticultural production from 5% to 47%. However, this growth predominantly benefited vegetables, with fruit lagging behind. To address this, the NAB has introduced the Namibian Fruit Development Scheme, focusing on developing the fruit sector's production, processing, storage, and marketing capabilities.
A 2022 study by the board highlighted Namibia's status as a net exporter of certain fruits, like table grapes and dates, yet the country imports 97% of other fruit varieties, mainly from South Africa. The study identified apples, bananas, citrus fruits, mangoes, avocados, and paw-paws as the top imports.
With only 15% of land suitable for fruit cultivation being utilized, the NAB has initiated the Namibian Fruit Development Scheme to reduce imports and encourage local production. This includes registering fruit farmers to tailor sector-specific interventions and launching pilot projects, such as a banana cultivation project in the Zambezi region.
Source: admin.freshpublishers.com