Agricultural irrigation is the single largest water user within the Kunene River basin. The agricultural sector is very important for the basin economy, particularly in the middle and lower reaches where rainfall is below 1 000 mm/year and agriculture would not be possible without irrigation. There is a significant potential to increase the area under commercial irrigation within the Angolan part of the basin, whereas in the Namibian part soils are poorer, potential is limited and the dry climate makes irrigation essential for any significant degree of agricultural production.
Current plans are for a total of 602 440 ha equipped for irrigation across the entire basin by 2025.
The following pages consider irrigation in Angola and Namibia, with particular attention on irrigation within the Kunene River basin.
Location of irrigated areas in the basin in 2025.
Source: AHT GROUP AG 2010
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