OFM News’ Lee Simmons speaks to Zandilsile Luphahla, spokesperson of the Northern Cape Department of Agriculture.

He says that South Africans are forecasting a crop of 78 000 tons of marketable grapes for the 2021/22 season. Luphahla says that this is outstanding news for the province and the country, considering that the 2021 season saw a sharp decrease of 16% due to unfavourable weather conditions. 

Furthermore, this outcome has resulted in more than 30 000 people working fulltime in the South African Raisin industry, in the Orange River Valley Vineyard belt. During the harvesting and drying of grapes, in the ZF Mgcawu and Namakwa districts, seasonal employment peaks at 30 000 – 35 000 seasonal workers. If one considers an average household size of 5 individuals, then the total reach of the SA Raisin industry (indirectly) impact 150,000 individuals. “So, all in all, we can see that we are going beyond 60 000 people who are currently employed in the Orange River Valley Vineyard belt,” says Luphahla.

He concludes by saying that the MEC for the Northern Cape Department of Agriculture, Mase Manopole, is excited about this and has followed up by doing oversight visits to the various farms. Manopole says that they will continue to offer support on raisin farms and that she is pleased to see the results being reaped.

OFM News/Lee Simmons