10 Apr 2023

About 5 800 tonnes of potato harvest expected from the Ghanzi region will replenish local market which has experienced shortage of potatoes in the past months.

District Agricultural Coordinator, Ms Wvelliminah Pelokgale said the severe shortage led to some traders pleading with government to allow import of at least 30 per cent of vegetables and fruit commodities.

She said following the vegetable ban imposed in January 2022, local producers worked round the clock to meet  demand for most of the barred commodities.

Amongst banned vegetables, potatoes have been the most sought after  produce in the market and  there has been light at the end of the tunnel in light of government efforts to support farmers in Ghanzi. Ms Pelokgale said Silver Horizon farm began harvesting last week Wednesday, with Red Cider farm expected to resume harvest.

She said that since this was a summer harvest they expected good quality produce.

She said they were confident that small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) will satisfactorily resume business given that both farms supplied as far as northern and southern part of the country.

“These farms have devised a noble gesture of allowing traders to camp at their facilities given the low queues and have extended a privilege of allowing traders to buy as much produce as they please,” she said.

Ms Pelokgale encouraged traders to avoid panic in times of shortage of certain produce, and assured them that the ministry had knew farmers’ cropping plans and when the next harvest was expected.

She said they had forged-ties with farmers in their region and encouraged them to produce more to take advantage of vegetable ban.

Ms Pelokgale said the ministry’s agribusiness office together with horticultural officers relied on follow-up assessments to check pest status/infestation of planted crops in efforts to assist with quality control interventions.

She said they also encouraged farmers to use Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture Development (ISPAAD) to cushion expenses and increase production.

In comparison, the price of 10kg bag at the farm remains relatively cheaper compared to when purchasing the same at retail stores.

To fulfil purchasing terms at farm gates individuals are urged to group themselves in groups of 10 people for collective purchasing. ENDS