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Rain saves jobs at Hardap farms

Farmers at the Hardap irrigation scheme are relieved about the reopening of the Hardap Dam’s sluices to resume crop irrigation and secure the livelihoods of people after recent rainfall.

This comes after 20% of the scheme’s permanent workers were expected to lose their jobs.

The Namibia Water Corporation (NamWater) reopened the sluices minimally on 15 January and then to the 80% capacity on Monday.

Recent rains saw the Hardap Dam’s levels rise from 5.5% to 16.4%.

Hardap Farmers Association and Crop Producers’ Association board member Dawie de Klerk says 20% of the permanent workers were anticipated to lose their jobs.

He says this would have affected close to 1 500 people as one employee is responsible for about three to four dependants.

“Apart from the permanent workers, we have hundreds of people on a casual basis whom we had to let go.

The socioeconomic impact on the town is tremendous. Plus, we have trained people over the past 25 years in specific skills,” says De Klerk.

Producers were expected to keep core staff only to perform essential duties.

The project is situated in the Hardap region, 110 km before Mariental from Rehoboth. It covers a total area of 90ha irrigable land divided into 6ha plots and is occupied by 25 medium scale farmers. The project produces lucerne and vegetables such as cabbage, onions, green pepper and butternut.

In October last year, NamWater suspended irrigation water supply to prioritise drinkable and livestock water needs. This was done to ensure adequate reserves until the projected dry run date of February 2026, given the ongoing drought conditions. At the time, the Hardap Dam stood at 6.3% capacity – its lowest level ever.

Hardap Dam

The decision impacted the Hardap irrigation scheme; more than 350 employees were retrenched, with about 1 100 family members indirectly impacted. During that time, the Mariental Municipality relocated about 80 households back to Mariental from the scheme to provide them with erven to rebuild and start over.

NamWater spokesperson Lot Ndamanomhata says NamWater works on the principle that water reserves must be sufficient to supply uninterrupted water for two rainy seasons without any inflow.

“If this is not feasible, one or more demands must be suppressed, with irrigation typically being the first option to ensure potable water supply remains secure,” says Ndamanomhata .

A farmer on the scheme, Raymund Simon, says no one in the region has planted anything extra. He says due to the adjustment of water, only 25% of the fields could be irrigated by October last year.

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

He says farmers usually plant maize in December and harvest it in winter, but no one bought maize seeds or fertiliser as everyone was waiting.

“It was a very bad experience for us, especially for small-scale farmers who have no other income. All we could do was to pray for rain.

“Our other option now is to plant peanuts since the water came in. Hardap will only be able to have lucerne again at the end of next year and that is a long time away. Lucerne is an expensive crop to establish.

“All the lucerne we irrigated last year till the closure died and there are farmers who need to buy feed. 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,” says Simon.

De Klerk says Hardap irrigation scheme farmers, the Aimab superfarm, Namibia Dairies, Mariental Piggery, and Harambee project members met two weeks ago to make recommendations on water needs to NamWater for the coming season.

The chairperson of the Hardap Farmers Association says they formulated a proposal to irrigate 80% of their fields this season, starting as early as possible with a 20% restriction on water supply.

“That decision was based on the fact that there is a full rainy season starting beginning of February, so it would be wise not to irrigate 100%,” says de Klerk.

He says this will save about 200 jobs.

Cherien Kock

Mariental mayor Cherien Kock welcomes the reopening.

“It is not just farmers who are relieved. It is the whole town as the dam is also the only source of water for Mariental.

“But it will also ease the pressure the town is facing with unemployment and poverty. Our economy needs a boost and every bit of job provision helps our people,” says Kock.

Ndamanomhata says in making such a decision, the water utility had to consider the current water levels in the dam, rain and inflow projections, and the government-imposed moratorium to keep Hardap Dam’s capacity capped at 70%.

The Hardap Dam’s storage capacity remains capped at 70% due to safety concerns following the devastating floods of 2006, further limiting the available water.

“However, the Mariental Flood Task Force has been established to investigate options for reconsidering this limit. Concurrently, NamWater’s hydrology section has been tasked to formulate an opinion on the matter to support informed decision-making,” says the spokesperson.

The water utility also wants to see farmers adopt less water intensive agricultural practices.

Ndamanomhata acknowledges the critical role the Hardap irrigation scheme plays in supporting agricultural producers and the local economy while reiterating NamWater’s commitment to managing water resources responsibly and balancing the needs of agricultural producers, residents and the broader economy.

“The decision to resume irrigation water supply depended on thorough consultations with stakeholders, a comprehensive analysis of water availability and an updated assessment of potential inflows.

“It is also important to note that any decisions or changes regarding the Hardap Dam must receive the consent and approval of the minister of agriculture, water and land reform to ensure alignment with national priorities. And, thereafter,” says the spokesperson.

Farmers gathered at the dam on the first day of the opening to see it for themselves: the source of their livelihoods trickling down.

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