Plans by the government to start developing phase two of the Neckartal Dam Irrigation Scheme are at an advanced stage.

Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said this during her familiarisation visit to the Neckartal Dam project near Keetmanshoop in the ||Kharas Region.

According to the Prime Minister, negotiations are ongoing between the Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform and private crop farmers to invest in the Neckartal Dam Irrigation Scheme.

The government invested more than N$2 billion in the construction of the Neckartal to accelerate agricultural activity in ||Kharas and secure the country's food security.

The dam has a storage capacity of more than 800 million cubic meters. Its current water level stands at 95.5%.

"I am very happy to see that the dam is finally fully constructed and that it is full, and that all the plans are running to make sure that the irrigation schemes are up and running. That is important so that we can release the full potential of the dam and also recover the cost that has also been sunk into putting this project together. As I have said, depending on how we proceed with it, this can support the economy in a very significant manner, but if the different stakeholders don't come together, we won't be able realise that, so it will not come about itself; it will need proactivity and pulling together in the same direction," said Kuugongelwa-Amadhila.