The Namibia Grape Company expects an improved harvest this year. This is after losing nearly 160 cartons of grapes to poor rainfall.

Managing Director Gideon Nuunyango told nbc News that more local people could be employed on a part-time basis.

The Aussenkehr Valley is known for its exceptionally long hours of sunshine, which allows the Namibian company to produce earlier in the season than most other grape-producing countries.

This gives Namibian grapes a significant price advantage in the European Union and other markets.

Nuunyango says the raisins produced will be exported to South Africa for packaging.

"We'll be done with our raisins in early March, but they're also going to South Africa for processing, sorting, grading, cleaning, and packaging so that work is still ongoing."
 
The Namibia Grape Company currently has about 420 full-time employees with an additional 1,800 seasonal workers.

Currently, workers are busy with post-harvest management and preparing the vineyards for the upcoming season.
 
"Even though we have packed above the budget, we still do not have the income the customers still need to pay for it. That is when we will know whether we made a profit or a loss. We have hope that we will make a profit, even though I cannot say how much, and we are sure that we are not going to make a loss," Nuunyango explained.
 
The Aussenkehr Valley is home to about seven grape-producing companies that have a combined workforce of nearly 15,000 Namibians.