Spinach listed as controlled product

Spinach has been added to a list of special controlled products to boost local spinach production in Namibia.This was confirmed in the Namibian Agronomic Board’s (NAB) new season’s harvest edition.According to the NAB, the Special Controlled Product Scheme for horticulture was established in 2012 to boost market share promotion.The scheme started with only two products - potatos and onions - and has since increased to 18 products. This includes cabbage, butternut, tomato, carrot, green pepper, coloured pepper, English cucumber, sweet potato, beetroot, gem squash, watermelon, pumpkin, sweetcorn and lettuce.The scheme involves the identification of vegetable products that are in high consumer demand in Namibia and have production capacity to satisfy local demand.According to the NAB, after close monitoring for a long period of time, statistics showed that 95% of spinach is locally sourced with only 5% being imported.It said currently there are 14 registered spinach producers in the country, with the majority of producers farming in the central and KARST production zones. Therefore, the addition of spinach to the scheme is aimed at increasing local spinach production and consumption in Namibia.Stimulate production“The scheme is implemented in line with the market share promotion scheme, which was introduced to stimulate the local production of horticultural products in Namibia and as a growth-at-home strategy implemented by the NAB.”It said the scheme classifies horticultural products to form part of inclusions and exclusions.“All products under the inclusions are not allowed to be imported during the closed border period and they are only imported when borders are open under special permits, which are valid for a month.”It added products that are the exclusion category are allowed to be imported with no restrictions and during the closed border period, are imported as part of mixed fruits and also through acquiring a vegetable import permit, which is valid for 90 days.The inclusion of spinach includes all types, grades, size groups and container sizes of the fresh, chilled, whole or cut spinach.The exclusion includes baby spinach, coloured spinach and all frozen and processed spinach groups.The NAB, therefore, encouraged local spinach producers to engage supermarkets that sell products under exclusion and initiate the production of these products to ensure that they form part of inclusions in the near future.

Spinach listed as controlled product

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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Spinach listed as controlled product

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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