1 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR SAILI COMMUNITY IRRIGATION FARM FOR BANANA & VARIOUS FRUIT TREES AT LISIKILI COMMUNAL AREA, ZAMBEZI REGION Assessed by: Assessed for: NYEPEZ CONSULTANCY CC Saili Agricultural Investment (Pty) Ltd May 2019 Environmental Impact Assessment_ Banana & Fruit farming_Lisikili Communal Area 2 COPYRIGHT© SAILI AGRICULTURAL INVESTMENT (PTY) LTD 2019. All rights reserved Project Name Proposed Irrigation Farm at Lisikili Communal Area Saili Agricultural Investment (Pty) Ltd P.O Box 98675 Client Pelican Square Windhoek Namibia Mobile +264 818162894 Mr. Gift Sinyepe Lead Consultant NYEPEZ Consultancy cc P.O Box 2325 Ngweze Namibia Date of release 01 May 2019 Contributors to the Report N/A Contact Nyepez Consultant Mobile: +264 814554221 / 812317252 [email protected] Environmental Impact Assessment_ Banana & Fruit farming_Lisikili Communal Area 3 This Study Report on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study report is submitted to the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) in conformity with the requirements of the Environmental Management Act, 2007 and the Environment Impact Assessment and Audit Regulations, 2012. May 2019 DECLARATION The Consultant submits this study report on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Study report for Saili Agricultural Investment (Pty) Ltd as the project proponent. I certify to the best of my knowledge that the information contained in this report is accurate and truthful representation as presented by the client. NYEPEZ Consultancy cc REG. No. CC/2016/07561 Signature: _____________________ Proponent: I, Saili Agricultural Investment (Pty) Ltd do certify to the best of our knowledge that information contained in this report is accurate and truthful representation. P.O. Box 98675 - Windhoek, Namibia Signed: _____________________ Signed on: ____________ day of: _________ 2019 Environmental Impact Assessment_ Banana & Fruit farming_Lisikili Communal Area 4 ABBREVIATIONS CBNRM Community Based Natural Resource Management DEA Department of Environmental Affairs DoF Directorate of Forestry DWAF Department of Water Affairs and Forestry DWSSC Directorate of Water Supply and Sanitation Coordination EA Environmental Assessment EIA Environmental Impact Assessment MET Ministry of Environment and Tourism MLR Ministry of Land Reform NACSO Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisation NGO Non-Governmental Organisation NNF Namibia Nature Foundation NRM Natural Resource Management GAP Global Approved Products Environmental Impact Assessment_ Banana & Fruit farming_Lisikili Communal Area 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION .................................................................................................................................... 3 ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................................................ 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................... 9 Justification & Objectives ................................................................................................................. 12 Scope of Work ................................................................................................................................. 13 1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 14 1.1 Background ................................................................................................................................. 14 1.2 Project Rationale ......................................................................................................................... 18 1.3 Terms and reference .................................................................................................................... 20 2. POLICY AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK ..................................................................................... 20 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT....................................................................... 22 3.1 Locality ....................................................................................................................................... 22 4. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL OVERVIEW OF THE AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT .. 28 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 28 4.2 Climate of Zambezi Region ........................................................................................................ 28 4.3 Soils ............................................................................................................................................ 30 4.4 Vegetation ................................................................................................................................... 33 4.5 Hydrology and Drainage ............................................................................................................. 35 4.6 Topography ................................................................................................................................. 35 4.7 Demography ................................................................................................................................ 36 4.8 Socio-Cultural ............................................................................................................................. 36 4.9 Socio – Economic ....................................................................................................................... 37 5. METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY .......................................................................................... 37 5.1 Planning ...................................................................................................................................... 37 5.2 Reconnaissance Survey ............................................................................................................... 37 5.3 Planning for Data Collection....................................................................................................... 38 5.4 Data Collection ........................................................................................................................... 38 5.4.1 Primary Data ....................................................................................................................... 38 5.4.2 Secondary Data .................................................................................................................... 38 5.5 Team Report and Feedback......................................................................................................... 38 6. FINDINGS/IMPACTS ................................................................................................................. 39 6.1 Impact of Road Construction ...................................................................................................... 39 6.2 Extension of the Road width ....................................................................................................... 39 Environmental Impact Assessment_ Banana & Fruit farming_Lisikili Communal Area 6 6.3 Opening up of Access Roads ...................................................................................................... 39 6.4 Construction of Electricity Grids ................................................................................................ 41 6.5 Way Leave Development Impacts .............................................................................................. 41 6.6 Siting of Factories or Agro-processing Facilities........................................................................ 42 6.7 Social-Economic Impact ............................................................................................................. 42 6.8 Employment Creation ................................................................................................................. 42 6.9 National Economy ...................................................................................................................... 43 6.10 Health Services ......................................................................................................................... 43 6.11 Education Services .................................................................................................................... 43 6.12 Impacts of Irrigation ................................................................................................................. 44 6.13 Soil Erosion ............................................................................................................................... 44 6.14 Leaching of Nutrients ............................................................................................................... 45 6.15 Pollution & Contamination of local ground water .................................................................... 45 6.16 Proliferation of weeds ............................................................................................................... 45 6.17 Impacts of Agriculture Production ............................................................................................ 47 6.17.1 Loss of Habitat & decreased Biodiversity ......................................................................... 47 6.17.2 Loss of Soil Fertility ..........................................................................................................