Africa-Press – Botswana. In an effort to promote fish farming among communities living along the Madikwe River, the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs in partnership with Kgatleng District Council recently conducted a two-day training for 45 people on commercial fish farming.
The training, which forms part of implementation of the Strategic Framework for Community Development, targeted residents of Mabalane, Sikwane, Mmathubudukwane, Ramonaka in Kgatleng East. Participants were drilled on sustainable farming, harvesting techniques, food safety and handling, communication skills, fish licensing and marketing, fish value chain, entrepreneurial and management skills, financial literacy and utilisation of digital platforms required to sustain their enterprises.
The ministry’s Principal community development officer, Ms Onalenna Shaudi said the training was not only meant to enhance job opportunities and skills, but was also targeted at improving household nutrition in the communities and self-reliance.
She said the initiative was also aimed at addressing some of the socials issues that communities continued to grapple with such as unemployment, substance use, diseases, pregnancy, high poverty levels and criminal activities amongst others. Ms Shaudi said with this initiative, Oliphant’s Drift/Ramotlabaki communities were sensitised on economic opportunities and how to get the best out of the district assets.
“We are also trying to build stronger public and private sector networks by investing in what is already available to them and capitalising on what they know,” she said.
She further explained that other objectives were to create flourishing local economies and providing community financing as well as encouraging innovative ways of producing fish products and finding new markets for members of the community.
Ms Shaudi highlighted that the National Social Protection Framework and the Strategic Frame Work for Community Development emphasised the need to shift service provision mode to strengthening self-reliance, hence the empowerment of communities to venture into sustainable enterprises.
For his part, Chairperson of ALMAKAR Association, Mr Dira Gouwe said he was optimistic that the skills imparted to the beneficiaries would significantly contribute to their shared efforts and commitment to building resilient communities and employment opportunities especially for young people.
He said the association was meant to coordinate sustainable and profitable fish farming, adding that the communities previously practiced fish harvesting for home sustenance as opposed to commercial fishing. Mr Gouwe said he was pleased that the training focused on a bigger picture to change livelihoods and that trainees were taught to fish for commercial purposes.
“I see lives being changed here and I am happy that there is progress in what we have started because after so many years in fish farming there is nothing to show. Our fish farming was hand to mouth year in and year out,” he said.
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