Tondoro:The Tjirakana Fish Farm at Tondoro village in the Kavango West Region has been officially handed over to its seven project members, marking a significant milestone nine years after the project was first established.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the initiative for the fish farm began when local resident Johannes Kamukwanyama proposed transforming an abandoned borrow pit, previously used as a dumping site, into a fish farming site. The Tondoro Constituency approved the proposal and referred it to the Regional Development Coordinating Committee for further consideration.

The Kavango West Regional Council subsequently provided more than N$2 million in funding for the construction of essential infrastructure, including four fish ponds, fencing, a water pump, pipes, lighting, fish feed, and training for the project members. Joseph Sikongo, the Tondoro Constituency Councillor, highlighted the project's role in economic development and its potential to contribute to local food production through gardening.

Kamukwanyama, the project's founder, noted that the idea originated in 2003 during his university studies and was formally established in 2017 with aims to combat poverty, unemployment, and food insecurity through aquaculture. The project is intended as a community-based initiative to empower locals economically and promote sustainable rural development.

Sikongo emphasized the importance of community involvement in farming to enhance household incomes and food security. He acknowledged challenges such as funding and infrastructure delays but expressed optimism about the project's future. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform supported the project with a donation of 4,000 fingerlings in September, with the first harvest anticipated in eight months.

Sikongo declared the fish farm open, encouraging members to maintain and expand the facility to ensure its sustainability. Kamukwanyama expressed gratitude for the regional council's support, both financial and technical.