NFCPT efforts boost fish consumption
Learners at the Ngweze Primary School are spellbound by the play performed by the staff of the Namibia Fish Consumption Promotion Trust (NFCPT) educating them about the importance of fish as part of the daily diet
“Thanks to efforts like these Namibians are consuming more fish,” says Charlene Hartung,
Acting CEO of the NFCPT. Statistics show that during the 2012/2013 financial year the Trust distributed 4,600mt of horse mackerel, whilst during the 2013/2014 financial year, 6,700mt were distributed, an increase of 2,100mt.
As part of the road-show, 14 schools in the Zambezi and Kavango regions were visited, with several selling points set up throughout the regions during the period of 24 February to 9 March this year. Having a high protein content, fish is an outstanding source of nourishment and is recommended as an essential part of a healthy, balanced diet. A 100g portion of fish supplies people with a third to half of their daily protein needs. As the primary source of high-quality protein, fish makes up 14-16 percent of animal protein consumed worldwide.
Apart from containing vital protein, it also is packed with essential amino acids and contains other vital nutrients such as B-vitamins, macro-minerals such as calcium, and trace elements like iron. All of these are vital for good health and optimum functioning of the body, which makes a higher consumption of fish among young Namibians especially important. According to Hartung, the road-show was a tremendous success, especially amongst learners. They were entertained by employees of the Trust performing a popular play that became famous at last year’s Fish Consumption Day hosted in Gobabis. The Namibia Fish Consumption Promotion Trust is awarded an annual quota from the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources. With this quota, horse mackerel are caught in Namibian waters, enabling the trust to sell the fish to the public at a discounted price.
Frozen fish is kept in cold storage in Walvis Bay and is dispatched to various shops via land transport. Daily, the trust has six trucks on the roads to deliver fish to various parts of the country, distributing their products through shops located countrywide, including Swakopmund, Ondangwa, Ongwediva, Rundu, Windhoek, Keetmanshoop, LĂĽderitz, Gobabis, Eenhana, Outapi, Opuwo and Walvis Bay.
