Potential investors have conducted a fact-finding mission to the Neckartal Dam in the ||Kharas Region, as plans gain momentum for the second phase of the irrigation scheme’s development.
An engineer within the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, Felix Ndinamwene, revealed details on the fact-finding visit in an interview with NBC News.
The government has acquired 19,000 hectares of land at a cost of N$20 million for the development of the irrigation scheme at the dam, expected to create 11,000 jobs.
During its recent oversight inspection visit to the dam, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economics, Public Administration and Planning appealed to the Ministry of Agriculture to fast-track the irrigation scheme's development.
"Through our Embassy in Kenya or Consulate in Kenya, we have identified interested partners that we want to work with the government to develop Neckartal Dam; hence, we are back again to the site to take the investors through the project to appreciate what is on the ground before they can submit their technical and financial proposal to the government."
Ndinamwene further revealed an ongoing land suitability survey has so far found that 2,000 of the 19 hectares of land assessed are suitable for irrigation.
The Honorary Consul of Namibia to Kenya, Said Ali, also formed part of the fact-finding mission delegation.
"Looking at the bilateral relationship between the two countries. In Kenya we have a lot to offer to our brothers in Namibia. And you know, since independence, Kenya and Namibia have always been tight together. So, I looked at the expertise which we have in our country, and I came up with the Penelly company, which has vast knowledge and experience in this field of water and irrigation and all of that."
Potential investor Penelly Construction and Engineering Ltd is looking at an Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Finance concept in partnership with KUKE Grupa PFR, a Polish development institution.
"Namibia, from the books that we read, is a water-scarce country and sometimes also fruit-scarce. So, this project is timely and a life-changing project. We feel through our partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Water and ourselves, we are going to deliver an irrigation farm. Actually we are looking at an integrated farm."
Simon Celugui noted a technical and financial proposal will be submitted to the government within three months, paving the way for the project's implementation.