Kirinyaga County Government has supported selected self-help groups with fishpond liners, fingerlings and feeds to enable them undertake fish farming.
Twenty community groups that were selected after applying for funding from the County Government were given the inputs and they are expected to harvest their first produce after six months.
Speaking at her Kagio residence, while distributing pond liners to the farmers, Governor Anne Waiguru said that the fish farming project is one of the components of Wezesha Kirinyaga Economic program that has been supporting farmers to diversify their agricultural activities in order to increase their revenue streams.
“The county government will support the farmers for the first six months and thereafter the groups are supposed to sustain the project after selling their initial produce,” she said.
“Fish farming will provide alternative livelihoods and give direct support to women and youth who will be involved at various stages of the project value chain which include, cooking, selling and transportation of fish,” she noted.
The governor also urged the county residents to embrace routine consumption of fish as a way of boosting their health as well as growing the county’s economy.
Beneficiaries of the fish farming projects are upbeat about the project and they look forward to uplifting their standards of living through the project.
Caroline Wambui, a group member from Gichugu constituency says that the project will boost the members with a nutritious source of protein and extra income from sale of the surplus fish.
“Fish farming will not only be a source of food to people of Kirinyaga but also we will get income to pay our bills,” Wambui said.
Another beneficiary, Elijah Karari says that his 25-member group is happy about the project and they look forward to selling their first produce and expanding the project as a way of empowering the members economically.
He says that fish farming compared to other farm activities is less time consuming and production cost is manageable. He thanked Governor Waiguru for the support which will go a long way in uplifting the living standards of the farmers who have embraced the project.
“We as a group will expand this project as it does not require a lot of time in maintenance. We appreciate our governor,”` he said.
During the National Aquaculture Annual Stakeholders Review meeting held in Kirinyaga County earlier in the year, Kirinyaga County Government emerged among the top five counties in implementation of the Aquaculture Business Development Program.
Waiguru further said that her vision is to see Kirinyaga get a fair share of fishing potential given that it is endowed with favorable aquaculture conditions which include fresh water and ready market.
By Mutai Kipngetich
