Staff Repoter
THE Namibia Water Corporation (NamWater) has approved the Hardap Farmers Association’s request to increase irrigation supply at the Hardap Scheme to 100%, following recent positive inflows into the Hardap Dam.
“The recent inflows have improved the dam’s capacity to 22.1%, allowing irrigation activities to proceed at full capacity while ensuring sustainable water supply for the region. This decision will help sustain livelihoods and preserve jobs in Mariental and surrounding areas, strengthening the local economy and agricultural productivity,” Lot Ndamanomhata, NamWater’s Head of Public Relations and Corporate Communications, said.
This development comes after NamWater resumed irrigation from the Hardap Dam earlier this year, initially agreeing to irrigate 80% of arable land while implementing a 20% water savings plan to ensure sustainable usage until July. However, since the water level of the Hardap Dam increased from 16.6% on 13 January 2025 to 22.1% on 10 February 2025, NamWater has announced that irrigation supply at the Hardap Scheme will now be set to 100% of irrigable land, effective immediately, subject to the following conditions.
Ndamanomhata explained that these conditions include adhering to a total supply volume of 48 million m³ per annum (4 million m³ per month). Additionally, irrigation water supply will remain at 100% only if sufficient water is available until the end of September 2024, with enough supply for domestic use until February 2027.
NamWater will continue conducting regular dry-run analyses to ensure the availability of potable water, even if there are no further inflows over the next two rainy seasons.
“NamWater urges farmers to continue adopting water-efficient irrigation practices to support long-term water security. While this decision provides immediate relief and economic benefits, responsible water management remains a collective priority,” Ndamanomhata added.
Picture for illustrative purposes only.
