The Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB) has revealed that the country’s table grape exports increased by 19%, reaching a value of N$1.7 billion during the last harvest season.
NAB CEO Fidelis Mwazi said 9.3 million cartons were inspected by the board to ensure quality control and maintain a strong position in the international market.
“We’ve seen this reflected in the figures for the last marketing season, with a nearly 19% increase. This translates to current exports reaching N$1.7 billion. It’s a remarkable improvement compared to just five years ago, when exports were around $800 million,†he said.
Mwazi also highlighted a surge in exports of other agricultural products, such as blueberries and citrus fruits, noting that approximately 95% of blueberries are destined for export.
“Similarly, citrus fruits like oranges and lemons are also predominantly produced for export. This growth presents a significant workload, but it’s a positive challenge that allows us to expand our service offerings,†Mwazi added.
He said the Namibia’s Market Share Promotion Scheme has yielded significant results, boosting local food production to 47%, with aspirations to achieve 60 to 70% market share.
“Our assessment indicates that the average Market Share Promotion we achieved last financial year was approximately 41%. While this remains below the desired threshold, it signifies substantial growth in local production across various products,†Mwazi said.
The NAB CEO said while the scheme has notably increased production of key crops like onions, potatoes, and butternuts, potatoes specifically play a crucial role in reaching the desired market share.
“To increase our share from forty-seven to the targeted 60/70% under the Market Share Promotion Scheme, increased investment in potato production is essential,†he said.
Mwazi said to address these challenges, the NAB has introduced a “special controlled crops” initiative, strategically managing border closures for specific crops based on local production forecasts exceeding domestic consumption estimates.
“This led to the development of the special controlled crops initiative where we periodically close and open borders depending on our produce levels,†he said.
This approach, he said, aims to maintain a balance between supporting domestic agriculture and ensuring consumer access to affordable, high-quality food.
