Hardap: Tilapia fingerling production at the Hardap Inland Aquaculture Centre remains relatively stable, with output reaching about 80 percent of its annual target despite operational constraints.According to Namibia Press Agency, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform reports that the aquaculture centre consists of 11 grow-out units, including five open ponds and six tunnelled ponds. Currently, the five open ponds are not operational due to incomplete waterproofing. Among the tunnelled ponds, three operate as semi-intensive systems and three as extensive systems, with only four ponds fully stocked and in use.Fingerling production at the facility is demand-driven, based on requests from small-scale fish farmers and prospective aquaculture entrants. Over the past five years, the centre has produced an average of approximately 80,000 fingerlings per season. Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda highlighted that production levels are affected by the availability of fish feed, limited ho lding space, and logistical capacity for distribution. The absence of a hatchery further constrains breeding, which is limited to natural cycles during the warmer months from October to March.Muyunda stated that annual fish production at the centre averages between 1.5 and 2 metric tonnes, which is below full capacity. He emphasised that the facility has historically not operated at optimal levels due to structural constraints, particularly limited budget allocations. These limitations impact the procurement of essential inputs, availability of manpower, as well as maintenance and upgrading of infrastructure.Oversight of the facility falls within the ministry's institutional framework, from operational to ministerial level, and the challenges affecting production have been acknowledged. 'The number of fingerlings on site currently exceeds the requested amount by farmers, but they are not yet in the hands of the farmers,' Muyunda noted.He further added that the ministry is committed to rehabilitating inf rastructure and improving production levels by December this year, while assuring the public that operational information and progress updates will be made available upon request.