Hardap Aquaculture Centre set for massive rehabilitation

The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform has announced an urgent intervention to restore the Hardap Inland Aquaculture Centre, aiming to return the facility to full production by December 2026.

Executive director Teofilus Nghitila issued the directive following a recent site visit to the facility, located 24 kilometres north of Mariental. Nghitila expressed disappointment at the centre’s current “dilapidated state”, noting that the infrastructure has become an eyesore for tourists within the Hardap Game Park and represents a significant underutilisation of government investment.

The centre serves as a vital hub for Namibia’s freshwater fisheries. Its primary mandate is to breed tilapia fingerlings, which are supplied at subsidised rates to small-scale farmers to bolster local food security. Currently, the facility supports farmers across six key regions, namely Hardap, //Kharas, Khomas, Omaheke, Otjozondjupa and Erongo. It also provides stock for other state-run grow-out operations, such as the Leonardville Fish Farm.

Senior fisheries research technician Ernita Morwe warned that current production levels are critically low due to crumbling infrastructure. She emphasised that a fully operational facility is essential for job creation and improving national nutrition. “If properly rehabilitated and fully capacitated, the facility has significant potential to support economic development.”

In response, Nghitila has instructed senior management to resolve operational challenges immediately. A key part of the turnaround strategy includes a series of stakeholder consultations scheduled to take place before the end of April. These meetings will focus on identifying sustainable, long-term solutions for both the Hardap site and other struggling aquaculture initiatives nationwide.

The ministry maintains that restoring these fish farms is a priority in achieving Namibia’s broader goals of self-sufficiency and economic growth through sustainable inland fisheries.