Namibian aquaculture vision on track

WINDHOEK – A plan aimed at uplifting Namibians from poverty by means of fish farming was greeted with a hefty dose of scepticism at its implementation about three years ago, but not with a complete lack of hope.

Today, aquaculture in the country employs nearly one hundred people. “It is working.All we wanted to do is to uplift people from poverty so that they can feed themselves,” said the Director of Aquaculture in the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Eckhard Klingelhoeffer, during an interview with Nampa here on Monday.A high-level delegation of the directorate undertook a familiarisation tour to fish farms in the country two months ago in order to inspect progress made in the sector.Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms, including the farming of fish, molluscs, crustaceans and aquatic plants in freshwater bodies and in the sea.So far, 35 aquaculture licences have been issued, while Government has developed three freshwater fish farms in the Caprivi Region and three in the Kavango Region, which are run by co-operatives.The aquaculture projects are currently only in the Caprivi, Kavango and Omusati Regions.The director sketched the potential of aquaculture in Namibia, saying that the environment is conducive to the development of the industry.Benefits include the rich Benguela current, existing infrastructure, a legal framework and a policy in place, 1 500 kilometres of largely uninhabited coastline, untapped resources of 92 species of fish in the Kavango as well as political stability and commitment by the fisheries ministry.According to Government’s Aquaculture Strategic Plan with a five-year horizon (2004-2009) targets, the rapidly growing domestic and international demand for aquaculture products offers great opportunities to Namibia through job creation in the industrial sector, including new and traditional spin-off industries that support aquaculture and seafood processing.A conservative estimate for the development of the industry is one that grows in value from the current N$20 million to N$250 million in 2009 with direct employment expanding from the current 422 people to 1 640 in 2009.Last month, President Hifikepunye Pohamba officially commissioned the harvest of farmed fish at Onavivi Inland Aquaculture at Omahenene in the Omusati region.The centre was established under a co-operation agreement for freshwater aquaculture development signed by Spain and Namibia in 2003.The centre has distributed 290 000 fingerlings to 165 communities and small-scale fish farmers in the Oshana, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, Hardap and Karas regions.The objectives of the project are fingerling production for supply to local fish farmers, restocking of lakes and other freshwater reserves and training of technicians and fish farmers.About 3 000 fish were sold last month at the Karovho Fish Farm equivalent to N$12 000.The farm is situated some 160 kilometres east of Rundu in the Mukwe Constituency of the Kavango Region.Fish, fruit and vegetables are being produced on the farm following the floods that seriously affected the other two farms of Mpungu and Shipapo Wambambangandu last year.The farm comprises of 16 fish ponds, of which 12 are currently in use.The aim is to enable the communities to start their own aquaculture projects.Currently, Namibia is getting fish food supplies from the Zambian capital Lusaka, while other regions are getting it from South Africa.-Nampa”It is working.All we wanted to do is to uplift people from poverty so that they can feed themselves,” said the Director of Aquaculture in the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Eckhard Klingelhoeffer, during an interview with Nampa here on Monday.A high-level delegation of the directorate undertook a familiarisation tour to fish farms in the country two months ago in order to inspect progress made in the sector.Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms, including the farming of fish, molluscs, crustaceans and aquatic plants in freshwater bodies and in the sea.So far, 35 aquaculture licences have been issued, while Government has developed three freshwater fish farms in the Caprivi Region and three in the Kavango Region, which are run by co-operatives.The aquaculture projects are currently only in the Caprivi, Kavango and Omusati Regions.The director sketched the potential of aquaculture in Namibia, saying that the environment is conducive to the development of the industry.Benefits include the rich Benguela current, existing infrastructure, a legal framework and a policy in place, 1 500 kilometres of largely uninhabited coastline, untapped resources of 92 species of fish in the Kavango as well as political stability and commitment by the fisheries ministry.According to Government’s Aquaculture Strategic Plan with a five-year horizon (2004-2009) targets, the rapidly growing domestic and international demand for aquaculture products offers great opportunities to Namibia through job creation in the industrial sector, including new and traditional spin-off industries that support aquaculture and seafood processing.A conservative estimate for the development of the industry is one that grows in value from the current N$20 million to N$250 million in 2009 with direct employment expanding from the current 422 people to 1 640 in 2009.Last month, President Hifikepunye Pohamba officially commissioned the harvest of farmed fish at Onavivi Inland Aquaculture at Omahenene in the Omusati region.The centre was established under a co-operation agreement for freshwater aquaculture development signed by Spain and Namibia in 2003.The centre has distributed 290 000 fingerlings to 165 communities and small-scale fish farmers in the Oshana, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, Hardap and Karas regions.The objectives of the project are fingerling production for supply to local fish farmers, restocking of lakes and other freshwater reserves and training of technicians and fish farmers.About 3 000 fish were sold last month at the Karovho Fish Farm equivalent to N$12 000.The farm is situated some 160 kilometres east of Rundu in the Mukwe Constituency of the Kavango Region.Fish, fruit and vegetables are being produced on the farm following the floods that seriously affected the other two farms of Mpungu and Shipapo Wambambangandu last year.The farm comprises of 16 fish ponds, of which 12 are currently in use.The aim is to enable the communities to start their own aquaculture projects.Currently, Namibia is getting fish food supplies from the Zambian capital Lusaka, while other regions are getting it from South Africa. -Nampa