ONGWEDIVA – The northern regions were a hive of activity this past week as many people flocked to the region with hundreds of boxes of grapes to make money in an effort to ease the financial dry spell associated with the month of January.
As commercial harvesting on the grape farms in southern Namibia ended people were made aware that boxes of grapes were going for very low prices, as low as N$30 to N$40 per crate containing a dozen boxes. This prompted entrepreneurial people to drive to Aussenkehr to purchase grapes in bulk. The grapes were available almost everywhere at the open markets and in the streets of Ondangwa, Ongwediva and Oshakati where street vendors could purchase a single box for only N$150 and resell the grapes in small sachets for N$10. Aussenkehr farm is well known for its high quality grapes that are grown primarily for export to Europe and elsewhere. Usually, the public has been allowed to glean the leftover grapes after the commercial harvest is over, a practice that people say is no longer permitted because of the number of people who flock to the farms. Instead the leftover grapes are now being sold at affordable prices. “Many of us were disappointed to find that the grapes are now sold to us, but we still make a lot of profit. It is an expensive trip to drive all the way to ‘Ou Singela’ but it makes a difference, because the profit is great with a box of grapes selling for N$150 and hundred boxes yielding a profit of N$15 000. People are crazy about the grapes, especially in the northern regions.
Those that travel to and from the north usually hitch on trucks that are coming from Oshikango and Angola heading to South Africa. Those do not charge us a lot, we pay about N$150 only, but if we take the buses we pay N$280 from Windhoek and when you come back with your hundred boxes you pay more, as you have to pay for yourself and each box you have is charged between N$10 to N$420 depending on the driver,” said Shekupe Nampala who also sells grapes. “These grapes sell very fast and because we get the grapes from the farms we have to deliver them here as quick as possible to avoid spoiliage. It is good business, especially with our children starting school. At least now we have some money to buy uniforms and other required school materials,” said a street vendor.
By Anna Shinana