SIAYA, Kenya – A revolutionary aquaculture business model has been introduced at Utonga Beach in West Sakwa Ward by the Siaya County Department of Agriculture, Food Security, Livestock, and Blue Economy in collaboration with Aquarech Ltd. and Equity Bank Kenya.
The program represents a significant turning point in promoting fish farming as a viable business endeavour for nearby communities.
The Beach Management Unit (BMU), youth organisations, and women’s groups will rent large fish cages that can hold up to 65,000 fingerlings under the new model. The beneficiaries will ease entrance into commercial aquaculture by making payments gradually over time.
It is anticipated that each group will produce roughly 25 metric tonnes of fish every eight months, generating an annual turnover of Sh7.5 million. Under this agreement, Equity Bank will finance the supply of fish feed for the duration of the production cycle, guaranteeing profitability and continuity.
Why fish farmers should take cognisance of perennial variations in weather patterns
Aquarech intends to provide 50 more high-capacity cages to BMUs in Siaya County over the course of the upcoming year, demonstrating the County Government’s dedication to contemporary, inclusive, and scalable aquaculture.
In May 2024, the Siaya County Government joined the rest of the 15 ABDP implementing Counties in commemorating the 4th Annual Aquaculture Day, a day marked to share knowledge and skills by showcasing innovations along the various nodes of Aquaculture value chains.
“We must take cognisance of perennial variations in weather patterns which affect production systems either directly or indirectly. Incidents of fish ponds being flooded, with accompanying destruction and loss of investment, are increasingly becoming a common phenomenon. This builds into this year’s Annual Aquaculture Day theme of “Investing in climate-smart aquaculture for prosperity”, said K’Okoth Sylvestre, the CECM for Agriculture, Food Security, Livestock and Blue Economy during the event.
He added that it is imperative to have a climate-sensitive lens as we site our aquaculture and blue economy investments and in our daily practices.
Also present was the Deputy Director of Kenya Fisheries Services Dr. Christine Adhiambo who urged farmers to adopt safe and sustainable fish farming practices including use of plastic cages, use of duck weed as an alternative fish feed and many other climate smart ventures so that we are able serve the demand of about a million residents in Siaya.
How Siaya fish farmers continue to enjoy support by benefitting from quality fingerlings
On his part, the County Director of Fisheries, Emman Otieno, explained that the County has about 65 ha of land under fish farming (1,800 fish ponds) and about 7,200 floating fish cages in Lake Victoria.
In partnership with other direct sector players such as the day’s convener -Aquaculture, Business Development Program (ABDP), Kenya Agricultural Business Development Project (KABDP) and many other partners, farmers continue to enjoy support by benefitting from quality fingerlings, fish feeds, fishing gear and technical advisories offered by the devolved unit to ensure an increase in the annual fish production to over 250,000 metric for purposes of ensuring food and nutrition security, and the commercialization Agenda.
The event, which was staged at Charles Ngala’s Agunja Farm in Sigomere, Ugunja Sub County, was also attended by various partners, including National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), Pacho Fish Farm, Great Lakes Feeds, Mwang’ Fish Farm, Gem Community Conservation CBO, Lake Kanyaboli CBO, Aquarech, Vemric Enterprises and several other partners.
The Nyalore Administration in its 9-point Agenda under Governor Orengo is committed to delivering social, economic and industrial transformation in Siaya County with Agriculture and Blue Economy as the anchor sectors.
