Mariental farmers in Namibia cut irrigation 40% due to drought

The level of the Hardap Dam near Mariental in Namibia was down to 10%, forcing irrigation farmers to cut irrigation by 40% at the beginning of November. This was according to Dawie de Klerk, vice chairperson of the Namibia Agronomic Board.

De Klerk, a farmer in the area, said if the level dropped to 4,5%, all irrigation would come to a standstill. “The devastating drought in the dam’s catchment area north and northwest of Mariental means very little inflow from the Fish River.”

Lucerne was the main crop produced in the Hardap Irrigation Scheme, followed by maize and wheat, as well as oats and teff. De Klerk said all water in the dam would be allocated to Mariental to ensure sufficient water for the townspeople. At the moment, the 40% cut in irrigation allocation meant that production could continue until the end of January 2020.

“We find ourselves in a dire situation. The socio-economic impact caused by the possible cessation

[of irrigation] would, among other issues, result in large-scale job losses. Such a scenario will have a shattering impact on employment rates and the local economy.”

Maize production in the maize triangle of Namibia, including the Otavi, Tsumeb and Grootfontein districts, had also decreased dramatically. De Klerk explained that yields could be increased markedly if the Namibian government lifted its ban on genetically modified (GM) cultivars. The board had embarked on an impact study to determine the effect of such cultivars on maize production in the country.

“GM cultivars will push up yields considerably. An increase in local production will obviously lessen our dependence on imports and add to food security.” – Annelie Coleman