NFCPT Takes its Mandate to the People at the 2026 Eenhana Expo

Eenhana — The Namibia Fish Consumption Promotion Trust took its mandate closer to the community through its participation in the 2026 Eenhana Expo from 27 July to 01 August 2026.

The Trust used the Expo as an important public education platform to engage visitors on its role in promoting fish consumption, the nutritional benefits of fish, its educational programmes and the opportunities that fish consumption and value addition can create for communities.The Trust placed a strong emphasis on education and public awareness, going beyond simply showcasing and selling fish. Visitors to the Trust’s information stand were introduced to the Trust’s primary objectives, which are to familiarise Namibians with fish and its nutritional value, while improving the accessibility and affordability of fish across the country.The Expo provided an important platform for the Trust to clarify its role within Namibia’s fisheries value chain. Many members of the public are familiar with NFCPT fish shops and the affordable fish products available through its outlets, but may not fully understand the broader mandate and programmes of the Trust.

Through direct engagement with stand visitors, the Trust’s team explained that its work extends beyond fish retailing. The Trust's mandate includes promoting fish consumption throughout the country while ensuring that this promotion is accompanied by practical skills on preparing and cooking different fish cuisines.

This educational approach was particularly important at the Eenhana Expo, where visitors had the opportunity to engage with the Trust, ask questions and learn how they can become active participants in increasing fish consumption within their own households and communities.

A key component of the Trust’s educational approach is the use of cooking demonstrations to show consumers that fish can be prepared in a variety of simple, appealing and practical ways. The demonstrations are not only about teaching people how to cook. They also promote value addition, encouraging communities to look at fish as a product that can be transformed into different meals and products with potential commercial value.

By imparting fish preparation and culinary skills, the Trust seeks to remove perceptions that fish is difficult or complicated to prepare, while encouraging households to incorporate more fish into their diets. The Trust has previously used cooking demonstrations as part of its regional promotional activities to impart practical fish preparation skills and encourage consumption.

During the Eenhana Expo, this message was linked to the wider economic opportunities that can emerge when communities acquire the knowledge and confidence to prepare and add value to fish products.

Another important message shared with Expo visitors was that communities do not necessarily have to wait for an NFCPT fish shop to be established in their town before they can participate in the fish economy.

The Trust operates fish shops across all 14 regions, while also using regional sales promotions and distribution initiatives to reach communities beyond its permanent retail footprint. The NFCPT has also recognised the role of SMEs and individuals in redistributing fish locally, creating opportunities for communities to participate in the fish value chain.

This creates an opportunity for individuals and small businesses in areas without NFCPT outlets to purchase fish through available Trust channels and resell it within their communities, subject to the applicable requirements and arrangements. Such opportunities can contribute to household income generation while simultaneously improving access to affordable fish in underserved areas.

The message was therefore simple: fish is not only a source of nutrition; it can also be a source of livelihood.

The NFCPT’s participation at the Eenhana Expo demonstrated the interconnected nature of its mandate. Promoting fish consumption can contribute to improved nutrition and food security, while increased demand for fish can stimulate activity across the value chain, from distribution and retail to food preparation, value addition and small-scale resale.