WINDHOEK, Jan. 24– Namibia has banned the import and transit of maize, maize products, and palm products from South Africa’s Free State, North West, and Mpumalanga provinces due to the detection of pests, Namibia‘s Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR) said on Thursday. In a statement, MAWLR Executive Director Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata said the ban follows the detection of bud rot of palms and Goss’s Wilt in the affected provinces. “MAWLR hereby revoke all permits issued for the importation of aforementioned plants and plant products and suspend the issuance of new import and in-transit permits for these plant and plant products with immediate effect,” the statement said. The ministry said the ban would remain in place “until a pest-free area is established in South Africa.” Goss’s Wilt affects maize, sorghum, sugarcane, and various grass species, while bud rot of palms targets crops such as palms, rubber, coconut, and papaya. Nghituwamata pledged to take phytosanitary measures to prevent the pests from entering Namibia, adding that the ministry will continue to monitor the situation and collaborate with South African authorities to provide updates. He also urged importers and the public to comply with the directive to avoid the spread of the pests.
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