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Namibia: Age of Aquaponics Dawns On Namibia

The worst water crisis ever facing the City of Windhoek saw the launch of the Namibia Future Farming Trust's third aquaponics growing centre at Dagbreek School for the Intellectually Impaired in Windhoek last week.

With it came great enthusiasm to establish this ingenious way of farming countrywide.

A donation of more than N$2 million by the Finish Embassy and contributions by various other sponsors got the aquaponics ball rolling last year. Since then three growing centres have been established in Windhoek.

Aquaponic cultivation method is a combination of aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponics (soilless plant culture) in a closed system. In aquaponics, the nutrient-rich water that results from raising fish provides a source of natural fertiliser for the growing plants and the system uses 90 percent less water than traditional farming methods.

Namibia's potential for crop production is severely limited by climatic and soil conditions, as well as its scarce water resources. The expected human population growth, and increased urbanisation rate in Namibia call for preventative measures now.

Kirsty

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