The Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) has said that the recent lifting of the ban on vegetable imports by government will have a positive impact on the tourism and hospitality sector.
This as the sector expects the quality and availability of vegetables is expected to improve, boasting the local culinary experience.
The Ministry of Lands and Agriculture, under the new government that came into power after the October 30 general elections, last month announced the phased lifting of the tropical vegetable import restriction measures. According to the ministry, the lifting of the ban on vegetable imports to Botswana will be done in phases.
Import restrictions on turmeric, patty pan, pumpkin, sweet potato, green pea, broccoli, cauliflower, gem squash, baby marrow, green bean, sweet melon, mushroom, calabash, cantaloupe and eggplant have been lifted with immediate effect.
The ministry indicated that the lifting of import restriction on beetroot, butternut, cabbage, carrot, garlic, ginger, green mealie, herbs, lettuce, onion, potato, sweet pepper, tomato and watermelon will be implemented on a gradual and phased basis as informed by need and capacity by 1 April 2025, subject to review which incorporates SACU considerations.
HATAB is of the view that the ban on vegetable imports did affect the tourism industry as tourists/clients were coming into Botswana and were not being able to be provided with what they have been promised.
In an interview, the association’s Policy Advocacy and Member Manager Dichaba Molobe expressed that the hospitality sector needs regular supply of vegetables and of good quality.
Molobe said that they have been advocating for the lifting of the ban on vegetable imports and that where they do not have sufficient supply they be allowed to import. He stated that the lifting of the ban is good for the tourism and hospitality industry.
“The ban affected the country in two ways, the produce was not in sufficient quantities, we could not get what we wanted at the right quantity and quality. The tourism industry is an international business and we must always be in a position to compete with the rest of the region,” he said.
Molobe indicated local tourism and hospitality industry operators should at all times be in a position to supply clients with what they have been promised. He added that it would not be a good experience for tourists to not get the quality they get from other markets. In this light, Molobe further stressed that the ban was not good for the image of the country.
However, Molobe has expressed that HATAB supports local production of vegetables and their members get into contracts with local horticultural farmers. He said the lifting of the ban is partial and it is only for a few selected items as the bulk of the vegetables are still restricted.
“We also think the lifting of the vegetable ban importation brings a balance for farmers as well as for the industry because both of us need to do business and not all vegetables have been restricted, so farmers get to supply locally” he said.
He expressed that the items that are imported like broccoli, patty pan and cauliflower are exotic and are not being produced locally and if there are some local producers then they may be few. Molobe noted they will continue to support local farmers and if there are some who can produce what the industry needs, they will be able to corporate and partner with them.
Government, under the previous administration imposed a temporary ban on the import of certain vegetables in January 2022 to help the country become self-sufficient in food and reduce its import bill. The ban was originally set to end in December 2023 but was extended to December 2025. The number of restricted vegetables was increased from 16 to 32.
