Maria David
THE Namibia Fish Consumption Promotion Trust (NFCPT) has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that fish remains affordable for Namibians despite increasing harvesting costs and a reduction in quota allocations.
NFCPT Chief Executive Officer Victor Pea said that the Trust has maintained its fish prices while absorbing rising costs to protect consumers from the financial burden.
According to Pea, the Trust continuously plays a critical role in making fish accessible to Namibians, particularly in inland areas where fish and fish products are not readily available or accessible.
Pea said that with the current consumption rate of fish at 18.07 kg per capita, a significant improvement from 16.59 kg recorded in 2001, this indicates that the Trust is fulfilling its mandate and playing its part in food security and public nutrition advocacy.
“The continued adequate resource allocation by the government can empower the Trust to continue providing affordable fish to the nation and ensuring sustainability in the sector while protecting the interests of fish consumers,” he said.
However, Pea added that the mission depends heavily on the allocation of an adequate fish quota by the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources.
He indicated that the Trust does not receive direct monetary subsidies from the government, making it reliant on selling portions of its quota to generate operational funds.
“The recent reduction in quota allocations poses a significant challenge, further straining the Trust’s ability to sustain its affordability initiatives,” he said.
He added that the NFCPT utilizes its allocated fish quotas not only to supply affordable fish and fish products to the Namibian market but also as a means of generating start-up capital to fulfill its mandate.
He explained that by selling a portion of these quotas, the Trust secures the necessary funding to support its operational budget, including fish distribution networks, behavioral change educational campaigns and innovations, and regional promotional activities aimed at increasing fish consumption across Namibia.
“This approach allows the Trust to maintain financial sustainability while continuing to commit to our mandate to make fish a widely accessible and affordable food source,” he added.
Pea raised concerns about whether fish will still remain affordable for Namibians if harvesting costs continue to escalate, with the reduced allocated quota already having a negative impact on revenue generation.
Picture for illustrative purposes only.
