Dinokeng to exploit fish farming

Mochudi East Constituency is working on a transformation agenda to increase exposure of fishing activity in Dinokeng Region and develop entrepreneurship spirit among the residents. Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mabuse Pule said his Constituency office aims to establish Mochudi East Constituency as the Aqua Tourism destination in southern Botswana through increasing exposure of fishing activities in the Dinokeng region and market the ‘Madikwe-Limpopo bream and other fish species. “This was borne of the dream to improve livelihoods of the communities through their environment.” The region has about five anglers, including those under poverty eradication scheme who are registered to fish for commercial scale. Pule highlighted that they are currently working with the leadership of the three villages to embark on a journey that is multi- pronged, comprising of a fish festival aimed at celebrating the rich resources of the area, by bringing together local fishermen, fishery stakeholders (i.e. seafood culinary experts), potential customers or investors to their business. “This will be the first step in a series of interventions that seeks to promote aqua tourism in the Dinokeng region of Mochudi East.”

The event is expected to bring together consumers and investors to interact and create a connection with their potential suppliers. “This is also an opportunity for young people to invest heavily in the fishing industry. It will also facilitate market access as it is one of the greatest challenge. The fishing industry is not that well marketed and known in this area as compared to Okavango and Chobe areas.” Fish farming is still an untapped market in Botswana which farmers could explore as an income-generating stream. Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture commercial fish farming activity is declining due to numerous challenges including lack of funding, high input cost, lack of locally produced inputs such as fish feeds. There are currently 10 fish farms that are operational in Botswana, ranging from backyard to commercial scale. To boost and encourage the fish farming industry, the Botswana government has constructed a Mmadinare fish hatchery to supply fingerlings to farmers and stocking community dams, to act as a demonstrating facility for aspiring fish farmers and a Fisheries Research and Development Facility.