CHAMWE KAIRA
The development of the multi-billion Namibian dollar, Neckartal Dam Irrigation Scheme continues to face challenges, including resistance from some landowners to sell identified portions of farmland and a lack of dedicated funding for land acquisition, according to the ministry of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform (MAFWLR).
The project aims to create 11 000 jobs.
The ministry said these challenges have slowed progress in securing all the land required to fully implement the irrigation project, despite the completion of the Neckartal Dam and its handover to NamWater.
A presentation by MAFWLR deputy executive director, Petrus Nangolo indicated that some owners of land earmarked for irrigation purposes around the dam have been unwilling to offer only the required portions of their farms for acquisition.
The ministry said some willing sellers have instead requested the government to purchase their entire farms, rather than only the sections identified for irrigation development.
Another major obstacle is the absence of a specific budget allocation for land acquisition under the Neckartal Dam Irrigation Scheme.
The ministry has recommended that a separate budget provision be created to acquire the remaining land needed for the project. It also proposed the possible expropriation of portions of land around the dam to ensure that the irrigation scheme can proceed.
The Neckartal Dam, located near Keetmanshoop in the //Kharas Region, was developed for irrigation purposes after a feasibility study conducted by MAFWLR in April 2010 identified more than 5000 hectares of irrigable land on both sides of the B4 tarred road between Keetmanshoop and Lüderitz, east of Seeheim.
Through the willing seller-willing buyer approach under the Agricultural (Commercial) Land Reform Act of 1995, the government initiated the acquisition of land required for the scheme.
To date, MAFWLR has acquired 20 248.2917 hectares of land at a total cost of N$19.54 million for the development of the Neckartal irrigation schemes.
The acquired properties include portions of the farms Tschaunaup No. 75, Dagbreek No. 420, Schlangkopf No. 124, Eppenau No. 123 and Skaapplaas No. 414.
The largest acquisition was Farm Dagbreek No. 420, measuring 11,033.2669 hectares, purchased at a cost of N$10.53 million, including transfer costs.
A further 3705 hectares remain pending acquisition under phases one and two of the project.
The outstanding properties include portions of Eppenau, Naiams, Neckartal, Schlangkopf, Sunnyside and Vishoek. These areas are required for irrigation land; abstraction works and evaporation dams.
MAFWLR said completing the remaining acquisitions is critical for unlocking the agricultural potential identified around the Neckartal Dam.
The irrigation scheme is expected to support agricultural production in the semi-arid //Kharas Region by making use of water from the Neckartal Dam, one of Namibia’s largest water infrastructure projects.
