Wine production at Naute Dam outside Keetmanshoop, Namibia

Winemaking will soon be added to the string of production activities at the Naute irrigation project near Keetmanshoop

. The project already grows dates, table grapes, pomegranates and prickly pears and from next year intends to make its own wine. According to the production manager, Japie Maré, there is currently no market for the Bareeh date variety produced at the project and it was decided that the best use for it would be to make wine from it instead of letting it go to waste. Maré explained that they have an agreement with Al-Dhahra Agricultural Company Namibia to harvest and export the Bareeh variety at the project. “We however do not want to waste it and therefore decided that it can be better used.” A wine cellar is under construction at the project and it is expected that wine production will start next year. Maré said they will look into producing wine and liquor from grapes and other products grown at the project. In future the project will look at planting additional grapes especially for wine making. The Naute Project currently has 40 hectares of table grapes in production. During the 2012/13 year another 40 hectares was planted. About 3 000 to 3 500 cartons of table grapes are usually harvested annually. Currently the project has five hectares of the Flame variety, seven hectares of Sultanas, 15 hectares of Prime, five hectares of Early Sweet and five hectares of Sugra One in production. An additional five hectares of Flame, five hectares of Sugra One and 25 hectares of Crimsone were planted. According to Maré the date plantation has been expanded by 20 hectares while 20 hectares of pecan nut trees have been added. The Namibian Development Corporation joined forces with the Al-Dahra Agricultural Company in 2008 to produce the Medjool and Barhee date varieties on a commercial scale at Naute Farm in an investment worth some N$85 million. The farm would have a yearly production capacity of 2 500 tons of dates and 270 tons of table grapes, aiming to provide dates all year round. Cabinet approved the lease of 220 hectares of land at the Naute Dam to the company Al-Dhahra & NDC Date Palm Development for a period of 50 years. The contract can be renewed after expiry. This development initiative was based on a desire of the Namibia Development Corporation (NDC) to extend its developmental activities to southern Namibia. In collaboration with Al-Dhahra Agricultural Company Namibia, established in February 2009.