<p></p><p>The Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB) hosted the 11th annual Namibian Horticulture Day on Friday, 23 September 2016, to recognise the best horticultural producers and traders for the 2016 season. The event awards and promotes awareness of excellent farming practices among small, medium and large scale producers, as well as traders.The best traders were identified on the basis of achieving the highest percentage of local produce compared to imports in their size categories. In terms of the Agronomic Board’s Market Share Promotion, which is implemented by AMTA, traders in horticulture fresh produce are required to buy a certain percentage locally, currently set at 44%, before they can qualify for import permits for horticulture products. The Agronomic Board said traders are a vital link in developing the horticultural subsector, as they are a key element in bringing local farmers’ fresh produce to consumers. <br></p> <p>The winning traders are Stampriet Farmer’s Market in the Mega Trader category, Okuryangava Fresh Produce in the Very Large Trader vategory, Brenner’s Fruit in the Large Trader category, Trust Market in the Medium Trader category, and Zaheer Traders in the Small Trader category. The AMTA hub Wholesale Agent of the Year was won by Stampriet Farmer’s Market while Iihape Marketing & Promotions is the AMTA Hub Commission Marketing Agent of the Year.The award ceremony was opened by Honourable Betty Kaula, the Regional Councillor for the Guinas Constituency.Hon Shiweda stated that local horticultural production and trading has grown to supply 44% of Namibia’s market demand for fresh produce in the formal horticulture market, up from just 5% in 2002. She attributed this to the excellence of producers and traders, under the auspices of the Agronomic Board. <br></p> <p>The Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB) hosted the 11th annual Namibian Horticulture Day on Friday, 23 September 2016, to recognise the best horticultural producers and traders for the 2016 season. The event awards and promotes awareness of excellent farming practices among small, medium and large scale producers, as well as traders.The best traders were identified on the basis of achieving the highest percentage of local produce compared to imports in their size categories. In terms of the Agronomic Board’s Market Share Promotion, which is implemented by AMTA, traders in horticulture fresh produce are required to buy a certain percentage locally, currently set at 44%, before they can qualify for import permits for horticulture products. The Agronomic Board said traders are a vital link in developing the horticultural subsector, as they are a key element in bringing local farmers’ fresh produce to consumers. <br></p> <p>The winning traders are Stampriet Farmer’s Market in the Mega Trader category, Okuryangava Fresh Produce in the Very Large Trader vategory, Brenner’s Fruit in the Large Trader category, Trust Market in the Medium Trader category, and Zaheer Traders in the Small Trader category. The AMTA hub Wholesale Agent of the Year was won by Stampriet Farmer’s Market while Iihape Marketing & Promotions is the AMTA Hub Commission Marketing Agent of the Year.The award ceremony was opened by Honourable Betty Kaula, the Regional Councillor for the Guinas Constituency.Hon Shiweda stated that local horticultural production and trading has grown to supply 44% of Namibia’s market demand for fresh produce in the formal horticulture market, up from just 5% in 2002. She attributed this to the excellence of producers and traders, under the auspices of the Agronomic Board.<br></p><p></p>