Komsberg has big plans for future
STAFF REPORTER
WINDHOEK
The Komsberg farm in the south, directly adjacent to the Orange River, produces table grapes and soft citrus for the international export market. It aims to expand its workforce by about 100 permanent workers within the next few years.
According to Jacques Clifft, general manager of Komsberg, the farm is 23 000 hectares in size. Approximately 1 400 hectares are utilised for existing and future plantings.
The land belongs to Ali Saeed Juma Albwardy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who bought the farm in 2017.
A total of 275 hectares of citrus and table grapes are currently irrigated on the farm.
According to the Namibian Agricultural Union (NAU) plans for the farm include growing blueberries and dates, but any commodity that adds value is a possibility.
The farm currently employs 143 permanent workers, which may increase to 250 employees in the next two to three years, and up to 900 in-season.
Fruitful
The table grape season starts in mid-November until the second week of January. Varieties irrigated on Komsberg include Early Sweet, Prime Seedless, Thompson, Sweet, Joy, Sweet Globe, Firestar, Ralli, and Flame Seedless.
The vineyards are planted under nets and cover about 180 hectares. It is marketed internationally to the UAE, Europe, South Africa, and locally in Namibia. Last year they planted 96 hectares of citrus trees, of which naartjies, grapefruit, and oranges are the most common. The trees will only go into production in 2023. Marketing for this will happen locally, in Europe, the UAE, South Africa, and America.
WINDHOEK
The Komsberg farm in the south, directly adjacent to the Orange River, produces table grapes and soft citrus for the international export market. It aims to expand its workforce by about 100 permanent workers within the next few years.
According to Jacques Clifft, general manager of Komsberg, the farm is 23 000 hectares in size. Approximately 1 400 hectares are utilised for existing and future plantings.
The land belongs to Ali Saeed Juma Albwardy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who bought the farm in 2017.
A total of 275 hectares of citrus and table grapes are currently irrigated on the farm.
According to the Namibian Agricultural Union (NAU) plans for the farm include growing blueberries and dates, but any commodity that adds value is a possibility.
The farm currently employs 143 permanent workers, which may increase to 250 employees in the next two to three years, and up to 900 in-season.
Fruitful
The table grape season starts in mid-November until the second week of January. Varieties irrigated on Komsberg include Early Sweet, Prime Seedless, Thompson, Sweet, Joy, Sweet Globe, Firestar, Ralli, and Flame Seedless.
The vineyards are planted under nets and cover about 180 hectares. It is marketed internationally to the UAE, Europe, South Africa, and locally in Namibia. Last year they planted 96 hectares of citrus trees, of which naartjies, grapefruit, and oranges are the most common. The trees will only go into production in 2023. Marketing for this will happen locally, in Europe, the UAE, South Africa, and America.
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