The Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, Ruthy Masake, has called for a shift from exporting raw agricultural commodities domestically to create jobs. 

In an effort to address the shortages of housing at Aussenkehr, the Namibia Grape Company (NGC), in partnership with Cape Span, will start with the first phase of constructing 76 farmhouses for employees. 

N$3 million was made available for the first phase of the housing project.

The Namibia Grape Company (NGC) and its South African-based partner Capespan have officially renewed their partnership, signing a contract that extends their collaboration for an additional 20 years.

The Namibia Grape Company at Aussenkehr in the ||Kharas Region has exported more than 2 million boxes of grapes to the European market over the last season.

The company's MD, Gideon Nuunyango, revealed this during the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources oversight visit to the project.

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.