Farmers in Siaya County have received fingerlings from Aquaculture Business Development Program (ABDP), to help them generate income and find a source of nutritious food.
ABDP issued 66,000 fingerlings of Tilapia of both sex, worth Sh. 990,000, the Coordinator of the Program in the County, Mr. David Mboya, said.
The stocked water pans were in three Sub Counties; Uranga (Alego-Usonga), Nyandera (Bondo) and Adhiri (Rarieda).
The Coordinator said the initiative was contribution towards food security and economic empowerment of communities.
Mr. Mboya said the pans were selected among others, after a suitability survey led by Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI). The survey assessed quality of water, sediments, surrounding terrain and ease of getting individuals with business ability, to form groups.
The groups were then formed, and the pan’s management committees elected to ensure their security and sustainability.
He said the breeding of fish in the pans, was also part of ABDP’s initiative to expand fish production.
The Coordinator, estimated that each water pan could generate about Sh700, 000 when half of the fish was harvested and sold at sh.250 per kilo, adding that the amount would increase with time as the fish multiply.
Other partners in the initiative are Kenya Devolution Support Program (KDSP) and Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project (KCSAP), which rehabilitated Uranga and Adhiri water pans, respectively. Another partner Agricultural Sector Support Development Program Phase II (ASDSP II), is training the groups, and would help find market for the fish when harvested.
Water from the pans is also used to irrigate farms for horticulture and for livestock consumption.
By Paul Olale
