Namibia will suspend all cereal imports from next month. The temporary ban is expected to boost the local production of Maize and pearl millet.
The Namibian Agronomic Board, NAB made the announcement on Wednesday that maize and pearl millet imports will not be allowed entry into the country until millers have taken up the local harvest, later in the year, in November.
NAB chief executive, Fidelis Mwazi informed processors that pearl millet import permits will only be valid until June 30.
According to recent estimates by the NAB, the projected demand for local white maize for the next six months stands at 70,000 metric tons while the expected harvest by Namibian producers stands at 64,039 metric tons.
Mwazi adds that due to good rainfall experienced in most of the production zones, a total of 3,000 tons is expected to be marketed to millers and silos during this upcoming marketing season.
The NAB adds that millers who refuse to take up maize from producers during the restricted import period will not be given import permits.
