Grape industry records good sales

DESPITE the ongoing economic turmoil, Namibia’s table grape industry has recorded good sales in the European market following last year’s bumper and quality harvest season.

The Namibia Orange River Table Grape Association chairperson, Andre Vermaak, said the industry had exported 16 650 tonnes of grapes to the European market. He estimated that these exports had generated an income of N$250 million. He said last year’s prices per carton had increased by 20 per cent in the European market compared to 2008. However, he added that a weaker exchange rate against the US dollar compared to two years ago had resulted in a 25 per cent exchange value decline. ‘In spite of the economic turmoil, the industry has achieved satisfactory product prices,’ he remarked. Vermaak said unfavourable climatic conditions for grape producing in Brazil had given the Namibian grape industry a chance to boost its exports. Vermaak expressed confidence that the industry would establish more vineyards this year.According to Vermaak, the industry’s objective this year is to focus on workers’ welfare.He said moves in that direction had been made last year already, highlighting the construction of a pre-primary school for workers’ children and the availability of an ambulance service at the Aussenkehr grape farm in the South. Vermaak said the industry planned to help each worker to own a house when the Government housing project planned for Aussenkehr became a reality. luqman@namibian.com.na