Grapes

Description

A grape plantation has the potential to last for thirty years with yearly harvests. Ethiopia is well predisposed to provide grapes during the peak seasons when the world’s major producers, namely Chile, South Africa and Brazil are off season. The diverse equator-stranding climate of Ethiopia allows production in two seasons, one of which in June to July, the two months when the rest of the world is not producing. The country’s relatively dry climate suits the optimal temperatures for the vineyard of 15 degrees to 40 degrees celsius.

Though Ethiopia began exporting grapes for wine-making or jam-making as late as 2008, the country has made efforts to sell 600 metric tons, using 2010 statistics. Grape production in Ethiopia has fluctuated from 1993 to 2013. For instance, the country had 4173 tons of the fruit in 1993 but by 2013 had improved to 5000 tons. The best year was 2005 when production reached 8,565 tons, according to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations statistics (FAOSTAT).