Full Story
Namibian grapes set to conquer US market
By: * BRIGITTE WEIDLICHWINDHOEK - Tucked on a mountain slope across a road from the barren desert of southeastern Namibia, rows of lush green vineyards are producing grapes enjoyed in Europe, China, the Middle East and soon, in the United States.
Temperatures of 50 degrees Celsius (more than 120 degrees
Fahrenheit) in the summer do not deter thousands of seasonal
workers from flocking to this hidden corner close to the village of
Noordoewer near the border with South Africa to harvest the high
quality seedless grapes.
From here, the sweet-tasting grapes mostly of the green Thompson
seedless sort and others like Dan Ben Hannah and crimson-coloured
Red Globe head to shops in Europe where 85 per cent of the produce
is sold.
"Namibian table grapes are the first to reach European markets -
already in November," says Helmut Angula, director general of
Namibia's National Planning Commission.
"Grapes from other countries of the southern hemisphere mature
about a month later, which is our competitive advantage."
Seven grape companies are cultivating 1 300 hectares, irrigated
by water from the nearby Orange River, and another 2 000 hectares
will be put to cultivation soon, says Andre Vermaak, general
manager of Namibia's Grape Valley Management Company.
The niche agricultural industry launched nine years ago in
Namibia could soon get a boost as the US market prepares to open up
to the grapes from the desert country under the government's
African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA).
Namibia will be able to export the grapes duty- and quota-free
to the United States under the terms of AGOA, a trade and
development program launched five years ago and which is to be
discussed at a meeting opening today in Dakar with some 37 African
countries.
US agriculture experts are due in Namibia soon to inspect the
grapes and ensure they meet requirements for pest control and other
sanitary requirements.
According to Vermaak, grape growers employ 1 300 Namibians
year-round and another 6 000 seasonal workers are hired during
harvesting.If additional hectares are planted, 2 000 more jobs will
be created in an area of the country hard hit by unemployment,
which is affecting close to a third of Namibians nationwide.
In 2004, production came to three million cartons, with earnings
of N$200 million, the Namibian Orange River Table Grape Association
(NORTGA) said.
The first vineyards in Namibia were grown by Roman Catholic
priests from former colonial ruler Germany one hundred years ago in
the mountain valleys of Windhoek, producing a quality white wine
and a potent schnapps, aptly called "Katholischer".
Production was halted in the 60s, when the last winemaking
priest died and the vineyards made way for building classrooms for
the church school.
But after Namibia's independence in 1990, the tradition was
revived and new vineyards were planted 800 kilometres further south
along the Orange River, albeit not for winemaking.
-Nampa-AFP
From here, the sweet-tasting grapes mostly of the green Thompson
seedless sort and others like Dan Ben Hannah and crimson-coloured
Red Globe head to shops in Europe where 85 per cent of the produce
is sold."Namibian table grapes are the first to reach European
markets - already in November," says Helmut Angula, director
general of Namibia's National Planning Commission."Grapes from
other countries of the southern hemisphere mature about a month
later, which is our competitive advantage."Seven grape companies
are cultivating 1 300 hectares, irrigated by water from the nearby
Orange River, and another 2 000 hectares will be put to cultivation
soon, says Andre Vermaak, general manager of Namibia's Grape Valley
Management Company.The niche agricultural industry launched nine
years ago in Namibia could soon get a boost as the US market
prepares to open up to the grapes from the desert country under the
government's African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA).Namibia
will be able to export the grapes duty- and quota-free to the
United States under the terms of AGOA, a trade and development
program launched five years ago and which is to be discussed at a
meeting opening today in Dakar with some 37 African countries.US
agriculture experts are due in Namibia soon to inspect the grapes
and ensure they meet requirements for pest control and other
sanitary requirements.According to Vermaak, grape growers employ 1
300 Namibians year-round and another 6 000 seasonal workers are
hired during harvesting.If additional hectares are planted, 2 000
more jobs will be created in an area of the country hard hit by
unemployment, which is affecting close to a third of Namibians
nationwide.In 2004, production came to three million cartons, with
earnings of N$200 million, the Namibian Orange River Table Grape
Association (NORTGA) said.The first vineyards in Namibia were grown
by Roman Catholic priests from former colonial ruler Germany one
hundred years ago in the mountain valleys of Windhoek, producing a
quality white wine and a potent schnapps, aptly called
"Katholischer".Production was halted in the 60s, when the last
winemaking priest died and the vineyards made way for building
classrooms for the church school.But after Namibia's independence
in 1990, the tradition was revived and new vineyards were planted
800 kilometres further south along the Orange River, albeit not for
winemaking.-Nampa-AFP
