INTATHELI YELANGA
SIGADLE kwezwela isenzo seBotswana sokuvuselela isinqumo sokuvimba imikhiqizo yaseNingizimu Afrika kuleliya lizwe njengoba kunesikhalo kubahwebi nezazi zezolimo kuleli, ngokuthi lokhu ikwenze isigubhukane, ngaphandle kokuxhumana nelakuleli.
Ngokubika kweFarmer’s Weekly, uMnyango wezeMihlaba nezoLimo eBotswana, umemezele ngoMsombuluko ukuthi imikhiqizo yakuleli; okuwutamatisi, amazambane, yiklabishi (eliluhlaza nelibomvu), u-anyanisi (omhlophe), ikhabe, upopo (oluhlaza ngombala), u-beetroot, u-carrot, u-lettuce, ama-strawberry, u-ginger, u-pepper ophuzi (yellow) nobomvu, u-garlic ne-butternut, kakusamukelekile kuleliya lizwe elingumakhelwane.
Kulesi simemezelo, iBotswana ithe ivimba le mikhiqizo nje, yingoba yenzela ukuba kuchume abalimi bakhona. Kasikaziwa isibalo sabalimi abagqemeke engeqiwa ntwala ngenxa yalesi sinqumo esesenze izazi zemboni yezolimo kuleli, zakhafula umlilo.
UMnu Wandile Sihlobo oyinhloko ye-Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz), uthe le nto yeBotswana yokuvele izume iNingizimu Afrika ngokuvimba imikhiqizo yayo, selokhu yaqala ngo-2021, okuyisenzo esifenyisa ukuhwebelana kwamazwe ayingxenye yeSouthern African Cunstoms Union (Sacu) – okuyiNingizimu Afrika, iBotswana, iSwazini, iLesotho neNamibia.
“Ngiyayizwa le yokucabangela abalimi basekhaya, kodwa kangiyizwa eyokuvele kuguqulwe imigomo isigubhukane, zingabe zisabhekwa izinhloso yeSacu (zokuthuthukisa ezokuhwebelana kwala mazwe),” esho.
Uqhube ngokuthi yize iSacu iwavumela amalungu ayo ukuvimba imikhiqizo yozakwabo ngezizathu zezempilo nezokuphepha kwezwe, kodwa isizathu seBotswana kasisondeli nhlobo kokugunyazwe yile nhlangano.
“Kuzomele siqinisekise ukuthi iSacu isebenzela wonke amalungu ayo, hhayi ukuthi imboni yezolimo eNingizimu Afrika ilinyazwe wukungabelani ngolwazi mayelana nezinguquko ezenziwa ngomakhelwane,” esho.
UKgothatso Nkgadima weXA Global Advisors, uthe isinqumo seBotswana sikhomba ukungaphusi uma kukhulunywa ngezomnotho nezolimo, kwazise wu-3% kuphela womhlaba wakuleliya lizwe olungele ukulinywa. Uthe iBotswana sekunesikhathi eside ithembele emikhiqizweni yakwamanye amazwe, ukuqinisekisa ukuthi inokudla okwanele ukondla isizwe.
IBotswana kayiqali ukugila elakuleli njengoba ike yayivimba eminye imikhiqizo yakuleli okuyi-turmeric, amathanga, ubhatata, u-green peas, i-sweet corn, i-broccolli ne-baby marrow.
Nokho le mikhiqizo ibuye yavunyelwa ukudayiswa kuleliya lizwe ngoZibandlela (December) 2024 emuva kuthathe umengameli omusha, uMnu Duma Boko, ongeke ehhovisi ngoLwezi (November) wawo u-2024.
NgoMbasa (April) nonyaka, kubuye kwavunyelwa u-beetroot, u-anyanisi, amazambane, u-garlic, u-ginger nezinye izitshalo, njengoba eminye yale mikhiqizo isiphinde yavalwa.
INingizimu Afrika ithumela kwamanye amazwe imikhiqizo yalolu hlobo elinganiselwa ku-R3.6 billion, kanti ulinganiselwa ku-R286 million kuphela othunyelwa eBotswana.
