Hardap's irrigation taps closed

"The mood in Mariental is quite low," a farmer at the Hardap Irrigation Scheme said after the dam's irrigation taps were turned off yesterday.

"It's very bad, especially for small-scale farmers who have no other income. All we can do now is pray for rain," Raymund Simon told Namibian Sun’s sister publication Republikein.

Agriculture and water minister Calle Schlettwein also confirmed that the dam is at its lowest level ever, at 6.3%.

"Irrigation water can no longer be supplied and is being cut off. Water supply for household use and livestock will be available until February 2026 (assuming there is no inflow this season)," he explained.

With the taps closed, the minister said the drought is revealing its severe impact, with climate change and resulting water scarcity being challenges that Namibia must tackle with urgency.

"We have started to create additional capacity by developing desalination and recycling plants. We are developing and connecting available groundwater aquifers with surface water sources. However, I agree that much more needs to be done with climate change and population growth knocking at our doors."

Stakeholders yesterday met in Mariental with NamWater representatives, which had shut off the dam's water supply for irrigation.

Drinking water available

The municipality of Mariental also squashed claims of a total cut-off of water supply.

It emphasised that drinking water will still be available for residents, but the provision of raw water will stop, meaning residents will not be able to irrigate their gardens.

Simon said all Mariental residents are affected, but the greatest impact is on irrigation farmers.

“Their next income will only come in the middle or end of next year if the rainy season arrives very late,” he explained.

Over the Easter weekend, Simon flew over an in-flood Fish River with his helicopter, igniting hope among residents for sufficient water in the Hardap Dam, but the inflow from the dam's catchment area was not enough to avert D-Day.

He noted that over the years, there have been water restrictions, and everyone knew this year that the water was low, but the dam has never been this empty, nor has the water been completely cut off.

"All the lucerne that is irrigated will die, and there are farmers who need to buy feed. Hardap will only be able to have lucerne again at the end of next year and that is a long time away. Hopefully, water will come in sooner than expected."

According to Simon, scheme farmers usually plant maize in December and harvest it in winter: "No one has bought maize seed or fertiliser. Everyone is waiting, but it might be a bit late for maize if we have to wait until February, with our rainy season starting in January or February."

He said the other option is to plant peanuts if water comes in.

"No one in Hardap has planted anything extra. Due to the adjustment of water, only 25% of the fields could be irrigated – literally until yesterday."

Dying crops

"Farmers could irrigate until last night and will harvest the last cuts of lucerne. The lucerne is going to die now and lucerne is an expensive crop to establish."

Once lucerne is planted, it takes three to four months before the first crop can be harvested, and it can yield about nine cuts per year, he said.

"Now the lucerne is going to die, unless water comes in within two weeks, but there are no rain forecasts," Simon said despondently.

Residents believe several factors have contributed to the low dam levels, including poor maintenance of the canal, taps and pipes, reeds that need to be cleared from the river and poor management, such as the opening of the sluices. At this time last year, the Hardap Dam was 25% full.

In the central region, the Von Bach Dam is currently at 9.9% capacity, with water being pumped from the Swakoppoort Dam, which is only 21% full. The dams in the eastern parts of Namibia are at just 1.5% capacity.

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