Use in-house experts for Neckartal Dam phase 2 - PDM
Urges ministry to be frugal
PDM president McHenry Venaani has urged the agriculture ministry to enlist in-house experts equipped with the necessary know-how instead of paying for pricey external expertise.
Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) president McHenry Venaani has appealed to the agriculture ministry to utilise in-house expertise for phase two of the Neckartal Irrigation Scheme.
Venaani expressed concern with regards to recent reports that indicate that the ministry wants to conduct a feasibility study for the second phase of the Neckartal Dam Irrigation Project by seeking outside expertise.
The upcoming second phase focuses on developing irrigation projects that are anticipated to generate substantial employment opportunities.
Venaani said while the objective may be rooted in the pursuit of improved agricultural efficiency, he is concerned about the manner in which the ministry seeks to achieve this objective.
“The potential extensive resources to be allocated towards the recruitment of external consultants is, arguably, reflective of a gross misallocation when these said funds could be significantly reduced or even eradicated.”
‘Smart and cost-effective’ solution
Venaani argued that the ministry has able and experienced staff on hand who are endowed with the necessary know-how to produce preliminary designs and tender documentation, as well as the ability to undertake contract administration and site supervision.
Venaani said he believes that the delegation of these tasks to in-house staff symbolises a smart and cost-effective way forward.
“Moreover, diverting would-be excess funds towards other pressing domains like augmenting water accessibility or promoting food security with mechanised agricultural development could create a larger impact on Namibia’s prosperity.”
He said it is therefore imperative that the ministry judiciously utilise the collective wisdom of its staff, thereby making the best use of its resources.
“Supporting in-house talent underscores the faith in the ministry’s own skills and talent; enlisting external consultants would not only prove to be costly and profligate but would also undermine the human capital that the ministry has at its disposal.”
Venaani therefore urged agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein to revisit the strategy and employ more frugal measures by demonstrating fiscal responsibility and optimising resource allocation. Agriculture ministry spokesperson Jona Musheko said the ministry will attend to Venaani’s concern.
First phase
It was reported last year that the second phase of the ongoing multibillion-dollar Neckartal irrigation project will cost taxpayers an additional N$2.4 billion.
The initial phase of the project was completed at a cost of N$5.6 billion in 2018.
The first phase of the project includes close to 19 000 hectares of land purchased in the ||Karas region between 2013 and 2018.
The agriculture ministry has been allocated a total of N$2.4 billion for the 2023/24 financial year, a 22.1% increase from last year for the second phase, which requires building canals, spill points and booster pump stations.
Neckartal is the largest dam in the country, with almost twice the total capacity of existing major dams. Its current water level stands at 89.1%.
Schlettwein previously said the project will create about 12 600 permanent and seasonal jobs for the envisaged irrigation schemes.
Great potential
The ministry conducted a feasibility study in 2010 and identified more than 5 000 hectares of irrigable land on the southern and northern sides of the B4 road, between Keetmanshoop and Lüderitz, east of Seeheim.
The irrigable land is estimated to be approximately 4 250 hectares, or 85% of the required 5 000 hectares.
It has a storage capacity of approximately three times that of the Hardap dam’s volume. At full supply level, it has a storage volume of 857 million cubic metres of water.
The dam also stretches for more than 38 kilometres upstream and has a circumference at full supply level of more than 290 km.
In addition, it has the potential to generate 3.5 MV of power, which will then be ploughed back into the national power grid.
Venaani expressed concern with regards to recent reports that indicate that the ministry wants to conduct a feasibility study for the second phase of the Neckartal Dam Irrigation Project by seeking outside expertise.
The upcoming second phase focuses on developing irrigation projects that are anticipated to generate substantial employment opportunities.
Venaani said while the objective may be rooted in the pursuit of improved agricultural efficiency, he is concerned about the manner in which the ministry seeks to achieve this objective.
“The potential extensive resources to be allocated towards the recruitment of external consultants is, arguably, reflective of a gross misallocation when these said funds could be significantly reduced or even eradicated.”
‘Smart and cost-effective’ solution
Venaani argued that the ministry has able and experienced staff on hand who are endowed with the necessary know-how to produce preliminary designs and tender documentation, as well as the ability to undertake contract administration and site supervision.
Venaani said he believes that the delegation of these tasks to in-house staff symbolises a smart and cost-effective way forward.
“Moreover, diverting would-be excess funds towards other pressing domains like augmenting water accessibility or promoting food security with mechanised agricultural development could create a larger impact on Namibia’s prosperity.”
He said it is therefore imperative that the ministry judiciously utilise the collective wisdom of its staff, thereby making the best use of its resources.
“Supporting in-house talent underscores the faith in the ministry’s own skills and talent; enlisting external consultants would not only prove to be costly and profligate but would also undermine the human capital that the ministry has at its disposal.”
Venaani therefore urged agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein to revisit the strategy and employ more frugal measures by demonstrating fiscal responsibility and optimising resource allocation. Agriculture ministry spokesperson Jona Musheko said the ministry will attend to Venaani’s concern.
First phase
It was reported last year that the second phase of the ongoing multibillion-dollar Neckartal irrigation project will cost taxpayers an additional N$2.4 billion.
The initial phase of the project was completed at a cost of N$5.6 billion in 2018.
The first phase of the project includes close to 19 000 hectares of land purchased in the ||Karas region between 2013 and 2018.
The agriculture ministry has been allocated a total of N$2.4 billion for the 2023/24 financial year, a 22.1% increase from last year for the second phase, which requires building canals, spill points and booster pump stations.
Neckartal is the largest dam in the country, with almost twice the total capacity of existing major dams. Its current water level stands at 89.1%.
Schlettwein previously said the project will create about 12 600 permanent and seasonal jobs for the envisaged irrigation schemes.
Great potential
The ministry conducted a feasibility study in 2010 and identified more than 5 000 hectares of irrigable land on the southern and northern sides of the B4 road, between Keetmanshoop and Lüderitz, east of Seeheim.
The irrigable land is estimated to be approximately 4 250 hectares, or 85% of the required 5 000 hectares.
It has a storage capacity of approximately three times that of the Hardap dam’s volume. At full supply level, it has a storage volume of 857 million cubic metres of water.
The dam also stretches for more than 38 kilometres upstream and has a circumference at full supply level of more than 290 km.
In addition, it has the potential to generate 3.5 MV of power, which will then be ploughed back into the national power grid.
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