Namibia continues to rely heavily on apple imports, with the country importing apples worth over US$1.85 million in the last quarter of 2024 alone. South Africa remains the primary source, fulfilling 95.7% of Namibia's apple demand during this period. Potatoes topped the import list at US$2.5 million, followed by apples, tea leaves valued at US$780,000, vegetable seeds at US$770,000, and bananas at US$710,000, all predominantly sourced from South Africa.
Despite minimal local apple production, the Namibia Agronomic Board (NAB) reports an annual import of over 4,200 apple tree seedlings, alongside 125 locally produced trees, indicating a growing interest in apple cultivation among Namibian farmers. Apple consumption remains high, as evidenced by its position as a top imported fruit due to limited local output.
The NAB report highlights a steady rise in apple imports and consumption from 2018/19, starting with 8,327 tons valued at US$3.7 million, peaking in 2020/21 at 11,181 tons worth US$5.6 million. Post-2020/21, there was a decline to 8,441 tons valued at US$3.7 million in 2021/22, New Era with a slight recovery in 2022/23 to 9,643 tons worth US$3.9 million, though not reaching the earlier peak.
The NAB suggests that Namibia has the potential to develop a local apple industry, considering the current substantial import levels. Identifying regions with suitable climatic conditions—such as cooler, higher-altitude areas in the South Production zones—and launching research programs to develop apple varieties adapted to Namibia's climate are recommended steps. This includes focusing on drought-resistant varieties and efficient water resource management, especially in areas with access to groundwater or rivers.
Developing the infrastructure needed to support apple farming, such as cold storage and transportation networks, is also crucial. Government investment in infrastructure could reduce post-harvest losses and ensure efficient market delivery. Collaboration between the government and the private sector to attract investment in local apple production through financial incentives like low-interest loans, subsidies, or grants is encouraged. The NAB also proposes extending the Market Share Promotion Scheme (MSP) to apples to gradually reduce imports as local production increases, thereby providing a stable market for Namibian farmers.
"Other strategies, such as the MSP (Market Share Promotion Scheme) as an import substitution policy or strategy, can be extended to apples to gradually reduce apple imports as local production increases, thus providing a stable market for local farmers and encouraging them to invest in apple production," advised the NAB.
Source: New Era Live