Local white maize harvest prompts import ban
Namibia expects a 2025 white maize harvest of 72,880 tonnes, with 60,370 tonnes to be marketed locally. To protect domestic producers, an import ban on white maize takes effect May 15. The Namibian Agronomic Board has warned millers not to reject local supply and will monitor against stockpiling. Import permits expiring during the ban are now invalid.
Namibia expects a harvest of approximately 72 880 tonnes of white maize during the 2025 farming season, from all rain-fed and irrigation areas countrywide.
This is according to the Namibian Agronomic Board’s (NAB) development manager, Loide Uahengo, who says 60 370 tonnes of this harvest will be marketed to registered millers and silo operators.
She was commenting on an import ban of white maize into Namibia introduced by NAB chief executive Fidelis Mwazi, effective tomorrow.
“The importation ban is designed to protect local producers so that they can have a market for their maize,” she says.
The bulk of the locally produced white maize grain is expected to be harvested and marketed to millers and silo operators from the same date.
According to a recent notice to producers, millers and silo operators, Mwazi said the border will close for the importation of white maize grain into Namibia from tomorrow until the local harvest has been purchased and partially milled.
“However, the marketing season commenced on 1 May as per [the] marketing agreement,” Mwazi said.
He added that, in accordance with the white maize agreement, millers and silo operators must not refuse maize from producers during the restricted import period and the white maize bought by the millers or silo operators shall still be part of their allocation for the 2025 marketing season.
“Furthermore, all valid import permits for white maize grain that lapse during the close border period are hereby cancelled and shall automatically become invalid as from 15 May,” said Mwazi.
Uahengo explained that this means the importation of white maize will only be allowed until today.
According to Mwazi, millers are entitled to have three weeks’ grain stock or less when the border closes for importation, and the NAB will closely monitor the importation by each miller to ensure there is no stockpiling before the closure.
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Source : Namibian
