The government is considering expropriating land around the Neckartal Dam after spending N$19.5 million to acquire more than 20,000 hectares for the irrigation scheme, with negotiations over the remaining land stalling.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform said it has secured 20,248 hectares through the willing-seller, willing-buyer framework but requires a further 3,705 hectares to implement the first two phases of the Neckartal Dam Irrigation Scheme.
Deputy Executive Director Petrus Nangolo said the ministry has acquired the land at a total cost of N$19.54 million following a feasibility study that identified more than 5,000 hectares of highly irrigable land east of Seeheim.
“To date, MAFWLR has acquired 20,248.2917 hectares at a total cost of N$19,537,491.59 for the development of the Neckartal Dam Irrigation Scheme,” Nangolo said.
However, the project has encountered delays because several strategically located properties remain unavailable.
According to the ministry, some landowners have refused to sell, while others are only willing to dispose of their entire farms rather than the portions required for the irrigation scheme.
“There is an unwillingness by the owners of the portions of land identified for irrigation purposes around the Neckartal Dam to offer them to the government. Additionally, willing sellers want the government to acquire their farms in their entirety, rather than just the earmarked portions. Furthermore, there is currently no budgetary provision for the acquisition of land for the Neckartal Dam Irrigation Scheme,” Nangolo said.
To overcome the impasse, the ministry has proposed a dedicated budget for outstanding land purchases and recommended the expropriation of the remaining portions required for the project.
The largest acquisition to date is Farm Dagbreek No. 420, covering 11,033 hectares, purchased for N$10.5 million. Other acquisitions include portions of Schlangkopf No. 124, Eppenau No. 123, Tschaunaup No. 75 and Skaapplaas No. 414, which will accommodate irrigation infrastructure, water abstraction works and evaporation basins.
The Neckartal Dam Irrigation Scheme is intended to support large-scale commercial agriculture by utilising land identified as suitable for irrigation around Namibia’s largest dam.
