IN a bid to shield its agricultural sector from the menacing tobacco ringspot virus, Tanzania has officially halted the importation of soybeans from neighbouring Malawi. The Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticide Authority disclosed in a recent statement that a thorough pest risk analysis had confirmed the presence of this detrimental virus in soybeans originating from Malawi. The authority highlighted the severe risk this virus poses to Tanzania’s soybean production, citing potential yield reductions of 25 percent to a staggering 100 percent, leading to substantial economic losses for farmers.
Analysts are viewing Tanzania’s action as a retaliatory measure, coming shortly after Malawi’s imposition of a ban on maize imports from Tanzania and Kenya due to the maize lethal necrosis disease in those regions. Grace Mijiga-Mhango, president of the Grain Traders Association of Malawi, characterised Tanzania’s move as part of a ‘trade war,’ suggesting a reciprocal response to previous actions.
Tanzania, a significant importer of Malawian soybeans, had earlier committed to procuring 100,000 metric tons of soybeans, valuing around $30 million. However, this ban casts uncertainty over the trade relationship. Malawi, having harvested approximately 400,000 metric tons of soybeans in the 2022-23 season, anticipates far-reaching implications beyond its borders, especially within the East African market, due to potential disruptions in exports via Tanzania.
Experts like Ronald Chilumpha, specialising in crop protection in Malawi, expressed the necessity of bilateral discussions before imposing import bans. Chilumpha emphasised the migratory nature of plant diseases, stressing the challenge of containment even with stringent controls.
‘Issues to do with plant diseases or pests — most of these are migratory and they will certainly move from one area to another, even when you have all the controls in place,’ he told VOA.
‘You cannot stop maize from Tanzania coming into Malawi 100 percent, that’s not possible,’ he added. ‘It just requires a single grain of contaminated maize.’
Tanzania’s stance against genetically modified maize seeds from Malawi further underscores its commitment to maintaining a non-GMO agricultural status. Meanwhile, Malawian authorities, including Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale and Principal Secretary Dickxie Kampani, refrained from immediate comments, indicating ongoing engagement with crop disease experts for detailed insights.
This move by Tanzania not only reflects concerns over safeguarding its agricultural produce but also raises questions about the broader impact on regional trade dynamics and the need for coordinated strategies to combat shared agricultural challenges between neighbouring nations.