April 2, 2009
New fish feed plant opens in Namibia
A new fish feed plant in Outapi, Namibia, has been inaugurated by the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Dr. Abraham Iyambo Onavivi.
The plant was built at a cost of NA$5 million (US$535,000). The equipment and machinery installed is valued at NA$3 million (US$321,000) while the building is valued at NA$1.15 million (US$123,000).
Iyambo said there is a need to strengthen Namibia's aquaculture projects and therefore he has tried to source the best aquaculture ideas to be implemented in the South African nation.
The Ministry of Fisheries has brought two specialists from Cuba and a professor from China to strengthen the country's aquaculture projects, Iyambo said.
The plant, which was made possible by the government, was built to reduce the high costs involved in buying fish feed from South Africa or Zambia.
The plant will produce higher quality fish feed by adding pearl millet, beans, corn and some oil, Iyambo claimed, adding that pearl millet had been tested in Spain and was proven to be one of the best ingredients for fish feed.
Namibia now requires a laboratory to ensure the quality of the fish feed, the minister said.
Namibia currently exports about 100,000 tonnes of fishmeal to other countries, he said.