FEED PLANT FACTORY

Fish feed is one of the major components needed and most expensive commodities when raising fish. Importing fish feed at a high cost from South Africa has been hindering fresh water aquaculture production in Namibia . It was through a cooperative agreement between the Namibian and Spanish Government, that a fish feed factory at Onavivi Inland Aquaculture Centre (OIAC) in Namibia was constructed.

The production of Namibia 's own fish feed will help in alleviating the shortage of fish feed, thereby improving fish farming amongst the rural communities, hence improving food security. Activities undertaking at the fish feed plant include fish feed formulation and research (Fish feed trails/experiments). From experiments, it was concluded that a diet of 15% protein is suitable for the use in low scale Semi-intensive farming systems, with low stocking density between 2 to 3 fish/m 2 , a diet of 25% CP be used in high managed semi-intensive culture systems, where there is high stocking densities of 4 to 10 fish/m 2 and a diet of 30% CP be used for broodstock (breeders) and nursing of the fingerlings while diet 38% CP be used for the fry stage.

Table 3. Estimated Annual quantity of each Diet, for all regions (August 2009 to August 2010)

Diet type Protein content of the diet Culture system, fish type and size
Prestarter 38% Intensive  for newly hatched fries
Breeder/Fingerlings 30% Intensive for fingerlings and broodstock fish
Semi-Intensive II 25% High scale management for growers
Semi-intensive I 15% Low scale management for growers