the monitor

Vegetable import ban 'here to stay'

Horticultural import ban was a necessary step to support the country’s farmers and build agricultural independence PIC: THALEFANG CHARLES
Horticultural import ban was a necessary step to support the country’s farmers and build agricultural independence PIC: THALEFANG CHARLES

KASANE: Agriculture minister, Fidelis Molao says the vegetable import ban is not only ‘here to stay’ but will possibly be expanded to include more produce in the next two years.

Speaking at the 40th Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) conference here, Molao said the horticultural import ban was a necessary step to support the country’s farmers and build agricultural independence.

Since its introduction, the ban on the import of 16 vegetable varieties has resulted in local shortages and escalating prices, worsening consumers’ plight as they struggle with the impact of COVID-19 on their finances.

Editor's Comment
BPF should get house in order

Speaker of the National Assembly, Dithapelo Keorapetse, has this week rightly washed his hands of the mess, refusing to wade into a party squabble that has no clear leadership and no single version of the truth.When a single party sends six different letters to the Speaker’s office, each claiming to be the authoritative voice, it is not just confusion, but an embarrassment.Keorapetse is correct to insist on institutional boundaries. Parliament...

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