The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR) has announced an immediate ban on the importation and transit of maize and palm products from South Africa’s Free State, North-East, and Mpumalanga provinces.

The decision follows the detection of Bud rot of palms and Goss’s wilt on maize in these regions.

Bud rot is a disease that affects the growing tip of palm trees, causing deformation in new leaves. Goss’s wilt is a bacterial infection that leads to severe wilting and leaf blight in maize plants.

According to the ministry, all importation and in-transit permits for the affected plants and their products have been cancelled. The ban will remain in place until South Africa establishes a pest-free status and appropriate measures are taken to prevent the spread into Namibia.

The ministry assured that phytosanitary measures will be implemented to safeguard Namibia’s agricultural sector. Importers and the public are urged to comply with the directive to prevent the introduction and spread of these diseases. The ministry will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates in collaboration with South African authorities.

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