Citrus third most consumed fruit in Namibia
Citrus ranks as the third most consumed fruit in Namibia, yet 96% of the products are imported, amounting to over N$57.6 million annually.
This is according to the Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB), which recently hosted a high-level Citrus Stakeholder Engagement in Tsumeb with key industry players.
According to NAB spokesperson Public Relations Officer Liseli Mwilima said commercial citrus production is concentrated in the Karst, Central, South, and Orange River production zones.
She said that approximately 1 783 tons of citrus are expected to be harvested in 2025, with over 150 000 trees planted nationwide.
Mwilima said that 70% of citrus produce is sold through formal markets and 30% through informal channels.
“Primary exports are destined for South Africa and Angola, generating over
N$23.9 million in 2024. Namibia imports over N$136 million in citrus planting materials annually.”
Mwilima added that most citrus fruits are gazetted as controlled products under the Agronomic Industry Act and that Namibia enforces a national citrus quality standard (NAMS 0023:2022) to ensure consistent product quality and market access.
NAB CEO Dr. Fidelis Mwazi said that the NAB will invest N$250 million (N$50 million annually) over the next five years into the development of Namibia’s crop value chain.
Mwazi announced the Board’s updated vision and mission statements, aligned with its new Integrated Strategic Business Plan (ISBP) and 5-Year Crop Value Chain Development Strategy (CVCDS)
2025–2030.
The revised vision now positions the NAB as a globally recognised regulator of a sustainable, agile and innovative agronomy and horticulture sector.
This strategic shift reflects the Board’s commitment to meeting global benchmarks, including ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 17020, and establishing a framework for continuous
quality improvement in regulatory services.
The revised mission focuses on legislation, facilitation, and research, charting a proactive path for the sector's advancement.
“When we talk about the citrus industry, we are talking about potential, jobs, foreign exchange earnings, and most importantly, about transforming the sector to benefit our farmers and the national economy,” said Dr. Mwazi.
According to Mwilima, the engagement was aimed at unlocking the potential of Namibia’s citrus industry and reinforcing efforts to develop a resilient and competitive crop value chain.
Representatives from the Local Nurseries Association, Citrus Growers Association, Namibia Association of Horticulture Producers, Namibian Association of Traders in Fresh Produce, citrus exporters, smallholder producers, the agriculture ministry and the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board, the Agricultural Trade Forum, and the Namibian Standards Institution attended the meeting.
She said that the stakeholder engagement concluded with an insightful tour of the Koedoebos Sitrus Pakhuis packhouse, reinforcing a shared commitment to grow Namibia’s citrus industry and improve its competitiveness.
She said that this engagement marked a strategic milestone in the implementation of NAB’s 2025 to 2030 ISBP and CVCDS, which prioritise the expansion of high-value crops such as
citrus.
“ These efforts are part of a broader drive to integrate smallholder farmers into commercial production, enhance export potential, and boost the sector’s contribution to Namibia’s GDP.”
This is according to the Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB), which recently hosted a high-level Citrus Stakeholder Engagement in Tsumeb with key industry players.
According to NAB spokesperson Public Relations Officer Liseli Mwilima said commercial citrus production is concentrated in the Karst, Central, South, and Orange River production zones.
She said that approximately 1 783 tons of citrus are expected to be harvested in 2025, with over 150 000 trees planted nationwide.
Mwilima said that 70% of citrus produce is sold through formal markets and 30% through informal channels.
“Primary exports are destined for South Africa and Angola, generating over
N$23.9 million in 2024. Namibia imports over N$136 million in citrus planting materials annually.”
Mwilima added that most citrus fruits are gazetted as controlled products under the Agronomic Industry Act and that Namibia enforces a national citrus quality standard (NAMS 0023:2022) to ensure consistent product quality and market access.
NAB CEO Dr. Fidelis Mwazi said that the NAB will invest N$250 million (N$50 million annually) over the next five years into the development of Namibia’s crop value chain.
Mwazi announced the Board’s updated vision and mission statements, aligned with its new Integrated Strategic Business Plan (ISBP) and 5-Year Crop Value Chain Development Strategy (CVCDS)
2025–2030.
The revised vision now positions the NAB as a globally recognised regulator of a sustainable, agile and innovative agronomy and horticulture sector.
This strategic shift reflects the Board’s commitment to meeting global benchmarks, including ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 17020, and establishing a framework for continuous
quality improvement in regulatory services.
The revised mission focuses on legislation, facilitation, and research, charting a proactive path for the sector's advancement.
“When we talk about the citrus industry, we are talking about potential, jobs, foreign exchange earnings, and most importantly, about transforming the sector to benefit our farmers and the national economy,” said Dr. Mwazi.
According to Mwilima, the engagement was aimed at unlocking the potential of Namibia’s citrus industry and reinforcing efforts to develop a resilient and competitive crop value chain.
Representatives from the Local Nurseries Association, Citrus Growers Association, Namibia Association of Horticulture Producers, Namibian Association of Traders in Fresh Produce, citrus exporters, smallholder producers, the agriculture ministry and the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board, the Agricultural Trade Forum, and the Namibian Standards Institution attended the meeting.
She said that the stakeholder engagement concluded with an insightful tour of the Koedoebos Sitrus Pakhuis packhouse, reinforcing a shared commitment to grow Namibia’s citrus industry and improve its competitiveness.
She said that this engagement marked a strategic milestone in the implementation of NAB’s 2025 to 2030 ISBP and CVCDS, which prioritise the expansion of high-value crops such as
citrus.
“ These efforts are part of a broader drive to integrate smallholder farmers into commercial production, enhance export potential, and boost the sector’s contribution to Namibia’s GDP.”
