Victory Farms company has embarked on construction of a fish processing plant in Suba Central Sub county at a cost of 140 million shillings.
The company’s Chief Development Officer, Caesar Asiyo, said that the plant will enable the company to export fish to foreign countries.
The aquaculture company based in lake Victoria’s Roo beach County will also use the plant to make animal feeds using fish waste.
Asiyo said the plant, dubbed Suba Value addition Centre will use fish waste locally called Ochong’a to make livestock feeds as well as fish feeds.
Construction of the plant was launched Thursday by Homa Bay County Fisheries Executive Sarah Malit and her Trade &Investment counterpart Joash Aloo.
Asiyo said the plant has the capacity to process 120 metric tons of fish per day.
“The Suba Value Addition Centre will be an integrated fish processing plant because it will utilise fish waste to make animal feeds as well. We’re expecting to be a leading fish exporter,” Asiyo said.
He said the plant will also process crops such as soybeans as well as “ochong’a” (fish waste) to make high value livestock feeds.
Asiyo, however, said Victory Farms does not have the capacity to produce 120 metric tons of fish per day from its cages and hence will explore other options to get enough fish for the plant.
“We’re going to collaborate with other fishermen and Homa Bay county government to see if we can come together to source more fish,” he said.
Malit said the integrated fish processing factory will empower local fishermen.
The fisheries executive said “ochonga” has for a long time been considered a waste by fishermen.
She said the product was usually sold at a throwaway price.
However, having a plant which can process ochonga means fishermen will have a market for the product.
“Homa Bay county government supports such investments and its expansion will ensure an increase in fish production. The plant will provide job opportunities for our youths,” Malit said.
Aloo said the company is one of the premier investments in Homa Bay County and that the company was one of the major employers of residents of the county.
“An Economic survey showed that the locality of the company used to be poor, with more than a 60 percent poverty index. But the situation has now changed since the firm was established,” Aloo said.
Suba council of elders’ Secretary Joab Ikawa said the establishment of the company has reduced crime among the youth.
“We’re urging the county government to improve access roads to open up the area,” Ikawa said.
By Davis Langat
