Grape exports contribute N$900m to GDP kitty

Ellanie SmitWINDHOEKThe contribution to Namibia’s gross domestic product (GDP) from grape exports amounts to around N$900 million a year.Agriculture deputy director for public relations, Chrispin Matongela, says that the grape industry in Namibia has grown significantly in terms of tonnes and value of grapes being exported from the country.He says that during the 2010/2011 financial year, a total of 29 762 tonnes of grapes with a value of more than N$597.8 million were exported.In comparison, during the 2020–2021 cropping season, a total of 39 233 tonnes with an estimated total value of N$857.5 million were exported.“This shows a significant increase of 9 471 tonnes with an estimated value of N$259.7 million over a 10-year period,” he said.Grape growthMatongela says that the industry has been exporting table grapes to the European Union and the United Kingdom, Middle East, Far East, Canada, Norway as well as Africa.He said the biggest market for Namibian table grapes is the European Union, with 57% of grapes being exported to that destination.Each carton of grapes on average weighs 4.5 kg.Meanwhile, domestically, Namibians consume a total of 159 tonnes of grapes.Healthy sectorMatongela further said that a total of 17 528 tonnes of vegetables valued at more than N$107.2 million are being exported.This includes vegetables such as butternuts, onions, potatoes, pumpkin, tomatoes, and green peppers.“The country produces 47% of its national demand for vegetables per annum,” he said.According to him, the size of irrigated land in Namibia has increased by 4 348 ha since independence, of which 899 ha are private land and 3 449 are state land.“The irrigable area for green schemes has increased by 3449 ha, and the combined capacity of grain storage facilities is 22 900 tonnes for five grain storage facilities.”Support agricultureHe added that the dry-land crop production programme (DCPP) has benefited a total of 112 523 farming households over the past three years.During the 2019/2020 financial year, the programme benefited a total of 40 393 farmers (23 218 female and 17 175 male) through subsidies, representing 34% of the targeted 120 000 crop-growing farmers.Since 2015, the ministry has also implemented the comprehensive conservation agriculture programme (CCAP) in ten crop growing regions of the country, namely the Zambezi, Kavango West, Oshana, Kavango East, Omusati, Ohangwena, Otjozondjupa, Omaheke and Oshikoto.This is aimed at promoting improved crop productivity and soil fertility and to mitigate against low and variable rainfall, thereby creating climate resilience for farmers.Through this programme, a total of 5 000 farmers were trained and are practising at least one of the conservation agriculture principles.

Grape exports contribute N$900m to GDP kitty

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

Please login to leave a comment

Grape exports contribute N$900m to GDP kitty

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

Please login to leave a comment

Login