🇳🇦NamibiaSouthern Africa
Oshikoto region to utilize saline water for aquaculture and food security
via The Namibian2 min read
Oshikoto governor Sacky Kathindi has announced a new initiative to transform the region's saline underground water into a resource for aquaculture development and enhanced food security. The project will employ reverse osmosis and mini-desalination technology to treat groundwater for drinking and irrigation, with the resulting brine byproduct used for fish farming. The region has secured N$6.4 million from the Environmental Investment Fund to support this endeavor, prioritizing water-stressed constituencies like Nehale Lya Mpingana, Eengodi, Omuntele, and Okankolo. Kathindi highlighted that the region's primary challenge of abundant but highly saline groundwater is now being converted into an economic opportunity through aquaculture. He emphasized the need for stronger public-private partnerships to expand fish farming operations, as the government alone cannot achieve this vision. With approximately 80% of the region's population dependent on agriculture, primarily mahangu cultivation and livestock farming, the project aims to diversify livelihoods by introducing fish farming as a sustainable enterprise. Communities will receive training in brine-based fish production for each mini-desalination plant installed. A special focus will be placed on the Omuntele constituency, where elephants frequently damage water points. Plans include drilling a dedicated borehole and establishing a separate wildlife watering point to mitigate human-wildlife conflict while supporting the aquacu
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
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