Tanzania Imposes Immediate Ban on Soybean Imports from Malawi
Prof. Joseph Ndunguru, director general of the Plant Health and Pesticides Authority, said "preventative action is essential to avert agricultural crisis."
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania - Tanzania has banned the importation of soybeans from neighbouring Malawi over concerns about a destructive virus, officials announced, writes Winston Mwale.
The Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticides Authority said in a public notice Tuesday that it was prohibiting soybean imports after determining through a pest risk analysis that the presence of the tobacco ringspot virus in Malawi poses a "high risk" to Tanzania's domestic soybean production.
"An immediate suspension of all imports of soybeans and its products is necessary to ensure the protection of the fast-growing subsector and prevent the potential introduction and spread of the virus in Tanzania," the agency said.
The tobacco ringspot virus can cause significant damage to soybean crops, leading to yield reductions between 25% and 100%, according to agricultural experts.
Tanzania's soybean production has grown rapidly in recent years, with approximately 1 million smallholder farmers now growing the crop.
Officials fear an outbreak of tobacco ringspot virus could cripple the burgeoning industry.
"To safeguard and protect the interests of Tanzanian farmers as per Plant Health Act, (the agency) has decided to enforce an immediate import ban on soya beans and its products including that on transit originating from Malawi, until further notice," the statement said.
Prof. Joseph Ndunguru, director general of the Plant Health and Pesticides Authority, said "preventative action is essential to avert agricultural crisis."
The agency encouraged importers to source soybeans from alternative countries to avoid disruption. It did not indicate when the import ban might be lifted.