10 tonnes of baby vegetables exported to Botswana weekly
NAMBoard Marketing Manager Thami Dlamini said they exported mixed baby vegetables which they sourced from their farmers adding that the produce included mainly tomatoes, green peppers, carrots and others.
He said the Botswana wanted the vegetables in excess of 30 tonnes per week.
“For us to do that we have to buy a truck and get more consistent farmers. We have noted with excitement that the produce from farmers is increasing. Swaziland through NAMBoard exports between 10 to 20 tonnes of vegetables per week to South Africa and this also includes tomatoes and beetroot,” he said during the official opening of the Swaziland Consumer Fair 2014 at the Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre yesterday.
Dlamini said the parastatal would like to explore Namibia in terms of selling vegetables to their market adding that there have been invited there.
He said in this they were working with the Federation of Swaziland Employers and Chamber of Commerce (FSE&CC) as well as the Swaziland Investment Promotion Authority (SIPA).
Meanwhile, NAMBoard Chief Executive Officer Siphephelo Dlamini said over 400 tonnes of produce both conventional vegetables and baby vegetables were exported to South Africa and other markets last year (2013).
He said Swaziland was gaining significant ground in this area as the country’s footprint was gaining more traction with export market links continuing to grow.
Dlamini said this was as a result of the reputation they were gaining of ensuring consistency of supply and supplying the necessary critical mass in other vegetables.
Source: observer.org.sz