Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism
Question by:
Hon Ferlon Christians
Answered by:
Hon Ivan Meyer
Question Number:
4
Question Body:
With regard to the extension of the ban on fruit and vegetable exports from South Africa to Namibia and Botswana:
- How does the ban affect the economy of the province;
- whether we found other markets to mitigate the negative outcomes of the ban on the province; if so, what are the relevant details;
- what is the value of Western Cape imports from Namibia and Botswana?
Answer Body:
- The import restrictions imposed by Namibia and Botswana have had mixed effects on Western Cape Agricultural sector. Despite these challenges, the Western Cape achieved an 11% growth in primary agricultural exports in 2023, reaching R66.9 billion, while South Africa's overall exports grew by 14% to R136 billion. The Western Cape agricultural exports to Namibia and Botswana specifically grew by 15% to R633.6 million and 41% to R335.9 million, respectively. However, these figures follow a declines in 2022, when bans on specific vegetable and citrus imports led to a 26% reduction in Western Cape agricultural exports to Namibia and an 8% drop to Botswana. The Western Cape vegetable exports to Botswana fell by 49% to R28.8 million in 2022, though they recovered by 59% to reach R46 million in 2023. The Western Cape fruit exports to Botswana also declined by 16% in 2022 but rebounded by 65% to R191.5 million in 2023. Minor decreases were observed in exports to Namibia for fruits (0.02%) and vegetables (2%).
- The import restrictions introduced by Namibia and Botswana, affecting both vegetable and citrus produce, have been in place intermittently from 2021 through to 2025. These bans prompted the South African government, led by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development to engage more actively with both countries to improve trade cooperation and find alternative solutions for affected producers. While the bans on citrus are often seasonal, occurring mainly between June and August, particularly in Botswana, vegetable bans tend to be more prolonged. To mitigate the effects, Western Cape farmers and producers have adapted by diversifying both their production and their market destinations. They have increasingly supplied the local South African market and expanded exports to other countries within BRICS, as well as other SADC countries. It for this reason that the Department developed the Western Cape Africa Agriculture strategy in 2022 to prioritise markets on the African continent for our producers.
- The Western Cape also relies on agricultural imports from Namibia and Botswana, albeit on a smaller scale. In 2023, the Western Cape’s agricultural imports amounted to R499.5 million from Namibia (an 11% increase) and R25 million from Botswana (an 82% decline). The province accounted for 21% of South Africa’s agricultural imports from Namibia and 2% from Botswana. This trade exchange reflects the close agricultural relationship between the Western Cape and its neighbouring countries in Southern Africa, even as export-import dynamics shift due to regulatory changes and market adaptations.
Date:
Thursday, November 14, 2024
