Staff Reporter
THE impact of the ongoing drought in the country is becoming increasingly severe, as the Hardap Dam, near Mariental, will no longer supply irrigation water from tonight, 31 October 2024.
This was announced a few hours ago by the Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Calle Schlettwein. He revealed that the dam received no inflow during this rainfall season, leaving it at a record-low capacity of 6.3%.
For this reason, the minister explained, irrigation water will no longer be supplied from the dam, though water for domestic and livestock use will be available until February 2026.
“Drought is showing its drastic effect. Climate change and resultant water scarcity is the challenge Namibia must embrace. Let us start to recognise the water sector as an existential priority,” Schlettwein added.
He assured that the ministry has begun creating additional capacity for desalination and reclamation plants to mitigate the drought’s effects. Additionally, he said, they are developing and linking available groundwater aquifers with surface water sources.
