The Hardap Dam near Mariental was completed during 1963 and the development of the Hardap Irrigation Scheme was started in the area. A need arose for a research station to assis the farmers of the Scheme with the problems and questions they encountered during production under the local conditions, as the farmers at the Scheme did not have any knowledge on crop farming under irrigation. The Hardap Research Station, under the previous dispensation, was officially opened in 1966.