The South African government urgently requested a meeting with Botswana officials following the extension of a ban on fresh produce imports that was initially set to expire this month. Botswana has prolonged the prohibition until 2025 and expanded the list of restricted items.
In response, the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza, will be engaging in a bilateral meeting to address any potential adverse effects on trade relations between the two countries. The department issued a statement on Tuesday emphasizing the minister’s commitment to finding solutions.
Originally implemented in 2022 to bolster the local agriculture sector by diminishing reliance on imports, the ban has resulted in revenue losses for South African farmers due to a decline in demand.
