The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR) has announced an immediate ban on the importation and transit of maize, maize products, palm, and palm products from South Africa’s Free State, North-East, and Mpumalanga provinces.
The decision follows the detection of two harmful plant diseases, Bud Rot of Palms (Phytophthora palmivora) and Goss’s Wilt (Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. nebraskensis), posing significant risks to Namibia’s agricultural sector.
“The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR) wishes to inform producers, importers, and the general public about the ban on the importation and transit of maize and maize products as well as palm and palm products from the Free State, North-East, and Mpumalanga provinces in the Republic of South Africa,” said MAWLR Executive Director Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata.
“The host range for Goss’s Wilt includes maize, sorghum, sugarcane, teosinte, gamagrass, and various grass weeds such as foxtail, crabgrass, johnsongrass, and ryegrass. For Bud Rot of Palms, the host range includes palms, rubber, durian, coconut, cocoa, breadfruit, and papaya.”
According to Nghituwamata, the diseases pose significant threats to Namibia’s agriculture.
“Bud Rot of Palms can affect crops such as palms, rubber, durian, coconut, cocoa, and papaya, while Goss’s Wilt impacts maize, sorghum, sugarcane, and various grasses, including foxtail and ryegrass.”
She said the ban includes the revocation of all previously issued import permits for the affected products, along with a suspension of new import and transit permits.
“These measures are in line with the Plant Quarantine Act No. 7 of 2008 and will remain in place until a pest-free status is confirmed in South Africa.”
MAWLR said it will implement phytosanitary measures to prevent the introduction of the pests into Namibia and will continue collaborating with South African authorities to monitor the situation.
