Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Calle Schlettwein, shared major hopes for the planned Neckertal irrigation project, saying that if run correctly, the project could finally be the answer to Namibia’s food insufficiency as it would surpass the demands of the local market.
The minister made these remarks on his visit to Keetmanshoop in the //Kharas Region, where he met regional and political leaders and the community at large.
The minister stated that Phase II of the project, which involves creating an irrigation scheme, will cost about N$2 billion. He, however, said that there is a challenge in financing the project as financing is still not secured.
“When the dam was started (during Pohamba’s presidency), money was readily available. The project was planned to be finished with our own resources or budgeted resources in both phases, the dam as well as the irrigation scheme… But we were stopped in our tracks because we ran out of money. First it was the overshoots of the dam project with N$1.4 billion, and then our ability to raise funds disappeared. We are in a consolidation phase, where we have to stabilise the economy. Growth has returned, but it is slow so funds are not readily available. But we believe the project is too important to be stopped by that,” Schlettwein said.
The minister added that discussions should be held on how to finance the sector, and queried whether the private sector should be roped into it or whether Namibia should seek foreign financing.
Part of the minister’s presentation included briefing the attendees on the background of the dam (Phase I cost N$5,6 billion and costs involved purchasing of close to 19 000 hectors).
Schlettwein explained that the Neckertal Dam is a spectacular piece of infrastructure and that it is the country’s largest dam as it is 800 million cubic meters (m3) in size.
“It was designed in size to fill up after three rainy seasons. This year, it only received 6 million m3, less than 10% of its total volume of 800 m3. But that is the nature of this region: it is dry, rainfall is sporadic. The design of the irrigation scheme is to have a secure water supply for at least three years. You cannot use the 800m3 in one year. That brings issues with it, on size of the irrigation, the way we irrigate, and how much water we utilise,” Schlettwein explained.
The minister added that, based on the three-year assumption, only 5 000 hectares (ha) can be irrigated.
He said that 5 000ha, under intensive agriculture, is by all standards a large project, adding that it is about seven green schemes in one. This results in almost 60% of Namibia’s green schemes being located in the South.
Schlettwein, however, said that the Neckertal irrigation project should be treated as one project, adding that the irrigation scheme is too large for the domestic market, and if it is properly run, it will produce surpluses.
The minister stated that of the 11 000ha purchased, about 4 000ha have already been identified as good irrigation land. He, however, added that in line with the main principle that people of the //Kharas Region have to benefit from the project, decisions will be made in conjunction with the communities on how the farming land will be divided and which farmers will benefit.
“We must get consensus with the communities on how we go ahead. The model should be economically viable, it should increase the living standards of people, and we must sell the commodities,” Schlettwein said.
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