Kavango west: The Mpungu Fish Farm in the Kavango West Region is set to receive N.dollars 2 million in the 2026/27 financial year to repair ponds and upgrade key infrastructure. Senior Fisheries Biologist in the Directorate of Fisheries at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, Fernandu Harold Khaebeb, highlighted the urgent need for investment to unlock the farm's full production potential.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Khaebeb spoke at the Kavango West Regional Development Coordination Committee meeting, outlining plans to direct the funding towards pond rehabilitation, lining, and securing a reliable water supply. The farm, which includes two farmhouses, an office, a storeroom, a small processing facility, and 14 ponds, has struggled to reach its design capacity of 20 tonnes per year. Currently, only four of the six production ponds are operational due to infrastructure limitations.
Planned upgrades also include perimeter fencing, pond lining, constructing a three-bedroom house, and improving the water pumping system. The addition of a borehole for potable water aims to ensure basic services on site. Khaebeb also mentioned that previous management challenges had hindered progress, notably the termination of a contractor tasked with fixing defects on a staff house.
The staff house remains partially habitable, with expectations that outstanding defects will be addressed in the next financial year. During the meeting, committee members sought clarity on a separate N.dollars 3 million allocation, requesting a detailed breakdown from the capital projects unit to account for completed and outstanding works.
Regional officials indicated that they would request the executive director to formally provide the allocation breakdown and prioritize the Mpungu upgrades in the 2026/27 workplan. Khaebeb stated that once funding is confirmed, farm staff and regional agriculture officials would prepare a detailed scope of work and procurement plan, with repairs expected to commence in the upcoming financial year.