Pretoria, South Africa – South Africa’s Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza, is seeking an urgent meeting with her Botswanan counterpart to discuss a controversial extension of import restrictions on fresh produce.
The move comes after Botswana’s agriculture ministry announced it would extend and expand a ban on certain produce imports until the end of 2025. The ban, which includes key South African exports like tomatoes, potatoes, and onions, was initially set to expire at the end of this year.
Didiza has raised concerns about the negative impact the continued ban will have on bilateral trade between the two nations. A spokesperson for the department, Reggie Ngcobo, said the minister hopes the engagement will help “resolve this challenge for the benefit of our countries and industry.”
The import restrictions are part of Botswana’s strategy to achieve food self-sufficiency and reduce its import bill, a policy that has frustrated South African farmers. Didiza previously addressed the issue at a Southern African Customs Union (SACU) summit in July, indicating that the matter has been a point of contention for some time.
