Water potential in irrigation sector not utilised
A third of Namibia’s water goes to irrigation, and there is plenty of room for expansion.
ELLANIE SMIT
WINDHOEK
The demand for water in the irrigation sector is expected to reach nearly 500 million cubic metres by 2030, while the sector has the potential to use almost 300 million cubic metres more water per year than it does currently.
In addition, for the greater Namibia, potentially a billion cubic metres of water is available annually, but the necessary infrastructure must first be developed to utilise it.
At present, the national demand is about 334.1 million cubic metres of water per year.
This is according to Maria Amakali, the director for water management in the agriculture ministry and the acting deputy executive director in the water department, who added that water is a key driving force within a food system.
Water in perennial rivers on Namibia’s borders in particular should be utilised, she said.
She made the remarks during a national discussion on the food system in Namibia, which started last week in preparation of the United Nations (UN) World Food Systems Summit in September.
Room for expansion
About 135.2 million cubic metres (33%) of the available water in Namibia goes to irrigation purposes, while up to 415.02 million cubic metres of water has been allocated for it, Amakali said.
Although areas such as Nossob-Auob, Omaruru-Swakop and Ugab-Huab are already almost fully utilising their potential for irrigation, there is plenty of room for expansion, she said.
The Kunene, Kavango-Omatako, Orange-Fish River as well as the Zambezi-Kwando-Linyanti area in particular offer strong potential for expansion when it comes to irrigation. Most green schemes can also expand and place much larger areas under irrigation.
This includes the Neckartal Irrigation Scheme, where up to 5 000 hectares can currently be irrigated.
According to Amakali, green schemes have so far only developed irrigation infrastructure on 3 392 hectares (29%), while a total of 11 531 hectares are still available.
In Namibia, 60% of the water used comes from underground sources. These include aquifers in the Karst area, Ohangwena II, the lower Kuiseb, Omdel, Koichab, Otjiwarongo, Windhoek and Stampriet. Namibia's groundwater is generally of good quality, except that it is brackish or salty in the central north and far south.
Amakali explained that the agricultural sector currently uses up to 66% of the available water in the country - for both livestock and irrigation purposes. Townships, which include manufacturers, absorb about 19.7% of available water, while the tourism and mining industries use only 5.9% and 4.8% respectively.
Future of the sector
In 2008, the irrigation industry used approximately 135.3 million cubic metres of water. This demand is expected to triple by 2030, when the industry is expected to need up to 497.2 million cubic meters.
Amakali said for the future, coordination in the irrigation sector will be very important.
“The overall objective for the irrigation sector is to improve water use efficiency, crop production and value addition to enhance economic growth as well as increase food security and exports from Namibia, provided that the environment and water resources are not compromised,” she said.
WINDHOEK
The demand for water in the irrigation sector is expected to reach nearly 500 million cubic metres by 2030, while the sector has the potential to use almost 300 million cubic metres more water per year than it does currently.
In addition, for the greater Namibia, potentially a billion cubic metres of water is available annually, but the necessary infrastructure must first be developed to utilise it.
At present, the national demand is about 334.1 million cubic metres of water per year.
This is according to Maria Amakali, the director for water management in the agriculture ministry and the acting deputy executive director in the water department, who added that water is a key driving force within a food system.
Water in perennial rivers on Namibia’s borders in particular should be utilised, she said.
She made the remarks during a national discussion on the food system in Namibia, which started last week in preparation of the United Nations (UN) World Food Systems Summit in September.
Room for expansion
About 135.2 million cubic metres (33%) of the available water in Namibia goes to irrigation purposes, while up to 415.02 million cubic metres of water has been allocated for it, Amakali said.
Although areas such as Nossob-Auob, Omaruru-Swakop and Ugab-Huab are already almost fully utilising their potential for irrigation, there is plenty of room for expansion, she said.
The Kunene, Kavango-Omatako, Orange-Fish River as well as the Zambezi-Kwando-Linyanti area in particular offer strong potential for expansion when it comes to irrigation. Most green schemes can also expand and place much larger areas under irrigation.
This includes the Neckartal Irrigation Scheme, where up to 5 000 hectares can currently be irrigated.
According to Amakali, green schemes have so far only developed irrigation infrastructure on 3 392 hectares (29%), while a total of 11 531 hectares are still available.
In Namibia, 60% of the water used comes from underground sources. These include aquifers in the Karst area, Ohangwena II, the lower Kuiseb, Omdel, Koichab, Otjiwarongo, Windhoek and Stampriet. Namibia's groundwater is generally of good quality, except that it is brackish or salty in the central north and far south.
Amakali explained that the agricultural sector currently uses up to 66% of the available water in the country - for both livestock and irrigation purposes. Townships, which include manufacturers, absorb about 19.7% of available water, while the tourism and mining industries use only 5.9% and 4.8% respectively.
Future of the sector
In 2008, the irrigation industry used approximately 135.3 million cubic metres of water. This demand is expected to triple by 2030, when the industry is expected to need up to 497.2 million cubic meters.
Amakali said for the future, coordination in the irrigation sector will be very important.
“The overall objective for the irrigation sector is to improve water use efficiency, crop production and value addition to enhance economic growth as well as increase food security and exports from Namibia, provided that the environment and water resources are not compromised,” she said.
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