The long-anticipated rainy season has once again commenced over various parts of our beloved country, particularly in the area with perennial sources of water. Despite the sporadic rain patterns we experience, aquaculture still holds great potential in the area of producing farmed fish for the nation and various rural communities throughout most parts of the country.
The government of Namibia through the ministry of fisheries has invested substantially in the sector for over 10 years and although the impact being notable there is plenty of potential still remaining. Aquaculture in most parts of the world was developed to create and improve household protein consumption, which is limited in many parts of Namibia despite having water resources.
Namibia and Africa in general are tremendously lagging behind on a global scale to an extent that fish that originated from Africa are currently sold back to Africa like Nile tilapia and catfish (Clarias gariepinus) for our own consumption. The natural stocks in most part of Africa continue to deplete and sustainable means of maintaining fish as a food source is crucially important. The rapid development in many of the major aquaculture producing countries is reaching severe environmental limitations, which provide greater opportunities for Namibians and Africa to be leading producers on a global scale. It is therefore imperative to position ourselves and the future generations with a foundation that will lead us to the next page of the blue revolution with equipped know-how and plans that will make us prominent producers in the industry.
Tilapia and catfish species originating from Africa played a major role in transforming the aquaculture industry in many Asian and American countries during a time that was called the blue revolution. Advanced research has already been applied on fish species thus further simplifying our ability to produce them at production levels comparative to what is produced in other parts of the world. Low labour costs, pristine environmental conditions and high market demand are some the major ingredients that make aquaculture an attractive means of production. Limited skills and knowledge also provide significant challenges but being a routine simple method of farming, matters of this nature can be resolved.
It’s therefore crucially important that we find mechanisms that will enable us to take full advantage of our available water resources and develop aquaculture to provide food security, skills, and job creation.
Hiskia Asino
GIS Consultancy