Niël Terblanché
NamWater, in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, has approved the Hardap Farmers Association’s request to restore irrigation supply at the Hardap Irrigation Scheme to 100%.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by Lot Ndamanomhata, NamWater’s spokesperson, the decision follows a comprehensive dry-run analysis and recent inflows into the Hardap Dam, improving its capacity to 22.1%.
“The restored supply promises a significant boost to the local economy and agricultural productivity in Mariental and surrounding areas,” he said.
He added that the restored water allocation is effective immediately, with a total supply volume set at 48 million cubic metres per annum.
Ndamanomhata assured farmers that irrigation water will remain available until the end of September 2025, while domestic water security is guaranteed until February 2027.
“Regular monitoring will be conducted to safeguard water availability, even in the event of limited inflows over the next two rainy seasons,” he added.
Dawie De Klerk, the chairperson of the Mariental Farmers Union, expressed his gratitude for the decision, noting the positive impact it would have on the community.
“We are relieved that the water supply has been restored. It means we can return to farming, possibly re-employ workers who were laid off, and secure the livelihoods of many families in the region,” he said.
NamWater suspended irrigation supply to farmers in October last year when the Hardap Dam reached critically low water levels due to poor rainfall.
Farmers have since been advocating for the restoration of water supply after recent rains in the dam’s catchment area resulted in sustained inflows over the past month.
Ndamanomhata said the decision to restore irrigation supply will allow farmers to utilise 100% of their irrigable land, bringing much-needed relief after months of uncertainty.
He urged farmers to continue adopting water-efficient irrigation practices to support long-term water security.
“While the current water availability offers immediate relief, responsible water management must remain a shared priority for all stakeholders,” he said.
