A New Way to Grow: Aquaponics System Boosts Food Security and Learning in Omusati

The event was attended by important local leaders, including Mr. Fillipus Tenga, the Honourable Councillor of Nkurenkuru Constituency

In many parts of Namibia, especially in rural areas, communities face ongoing struggles with food security. Traditional farming methods are becoming harder to sustain due to climate change, poor soil, and limited water. For young people trying to build futures in agriculture, there have not always been enough tools or opportunities to learn modern, more effective ways to farm.

To help change this, a brand-new aquaponics system was officially handed over to the DAPP Namibia Vocational Training School on 18 March 2025 near Outapi in the Omusati region. This is not just any farming system—it is an innovative setup that grows plants without soil while also raising fish, using water more efficiently than traditional farming.

The system was delivered as part of the "Think Namibia" campaign and the ‘Aquaponics Systems for Educational Institutions’ project, run by the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF). The Embassy of Finland to Namibia and Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) also supported, with the Finnish Embassy funding the project through its Funds for Local Cooperation (FLC) programme.

So far, nine aquaponics systems have been set up in vocational schools in underserved areas. The idea is simple: give students hands-on experience with climate-smart farming, and let them take those skills back to their communities.

As Alfred Besa, Managing Director of DAPP Namibia, explained: “This system is valuable because it grows food in more than one way. It’s a great chance for local farmers to see what is possible.”


The DAPP Vocational Training School is accredited up to NQA Level 3 in agriculture. With this aquaponics system now in place, the school is preparing to expand its training to Level 4 and 5, bringing even more advanced skills and knowledge to students. This means more young people will be trained in sustainable farming methods that work even when the climate is changing.

Namibia Breweries Limited has committed to supporting this project for the next three years, helping ensure it grows stronger and reaches more people. As NBL’s Franklin Angermund put it:

“We’re here for the long run. Our goal is to help people and the planet by supporting practical solutions like aquaponics.”

This project is more than just technology—it’s about empowering young people, building stronger communities, and creating new ways to grow food in a changing world. Thanks to the support of partners like HSF, the Embassy of Finland, and NBL, the future of farming in Omusati just got a lot brighter.

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A New Way to Grow: Aquaponics System Boosts Food Security and Learning in Omusati

The event was attended by important local leaders, including Mr. Fillipus Tenga, the Honourable Councillor of Nkurenkuru Constituency

In many parts of Namibia, especially in rural areas, communities face ongoing struggles with food security. Traditional farming methods are becoming harder to sustain due to climate change, poor soil, and limited water. For young people trying to build futures in agriculture, there have not always been enough tools or opportunities to learn modern, more effective ways to farm.

To help change this, a brand-new aquaponics system was officially handed over to the DAPP Namibia Vocational Training School on 18 March 2025 near Outapi in the Omusati region. This is not just any farming system—it is an innovative setup that grows plants without soil while also raising fish, using water more efficiently than traditional farming.

The system was delivered as part of the "Think Namibia" campaign and the ‘Aquaponics Systems for Educational Institutions’ project, run by the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF). The Embassy of Finland to Namibia and Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) also supported, with the Finnish Embassy funding the project through its Funds for Local Cooperation (FLC) programme.

So far, nine aquaponics systems have been set up in vocational schools in underserved areas. The idea is simple: give students hands-on experience with climate-smart farming, and let them take those skills back to their communities.

As Alfred Besa, Managing Director of DAPP Namibia, explained: “This system is valuable because it grows food in more than one way. It’s a great chance for local farmers to see what is possible.”


The DAPP Vocational Training School is accredited up to NQA Level 3 in agriculture. With this aquaponics system now in place, the school is preparing to expand its training to Level 4 and 5, bringing even more advanced skills and knowledge to students. This means more young people will be trained in sustainable farming methods that work even when the climate is changing.

Namibia Breweries Limited has committed to supporting this project for the next three years, helping ensure it grows stronger and reaches more people. As NBL’s Franklin Angermund put it:

“We’re here for the long run. Our goal is to help people and the planet by supporting practical solutions like aquaponics.”

This project is more than just technology—it’s about empowering young people, building stronger communities, and creating new ways to grow food in a changing world. Thanks to the support of partners like HSF, the Embassy of Finland, and NBL, the future of farming in Omusati just got a lot brighter.

Article 3 A