Major Government Investment in New Aqua Project
18 April 2008NAMIBIA - N$8 million to start a major aquaculture project at Leonardville village in the Omaheke Region has been approved by the Namibian Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources has allocatedDr Abraham Iyambo, Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister announced the funding during a fish consumption promotion and harvesting campaign at Okombepera last Saturday.
According to the Namibian, the outcome of a feasibility study for the project indicated that the region has plenty of quality water for the project and its development would benefit the area economically, offering employment for young people and increasing resources and marketing potential for food production.
Leonardville is situated about 170 km south of Gobabis and thought to have particular potential for high quality fish farming.
Iyambo said that his ministry has decided to spend N$1 million to design the project, adding that they would spend another N$3 million the following year for infrastructure and further N$4 million on human resources and capacity building.
He said, he expects the project to produce more fish for consumption and marketing. Similar projects are expected to be started in the Omusati and Hardap regions.
"The people of the cattle country are, slowly but surely, getting the message of diversification of farming methods and I can assure that given enough fresh water resources in the constituency and the support of the ministry in terms of training and material support, this sector will grow and take its rightful place in the household economies of our communities," said Aminuis Settlement's Chief Control Officer, Gustav Kauta.
TheFishSite News Desk
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