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Fish eatery launched in Busia

The County Government of Busia has commissioned a fish eatery in Samia Sub County.

The facility funded by the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project is the first of its kind situated in Nangina Ward and was started with the objective of increasing per capita fish consumption.

In a speech read on his behalf by the CEC Member for Agriculture Dr Moses Osia, Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong, said that the facility will increase uptake of fish value addition technologies and innovations to the beneficiary communities.

Ojaamong also lauded KCSAP for supporting Wakhungu hatchery whose production capacity is 1.5 million fingerlings per year.

“KCSAP has also supported Nasewa fish feed production through installation of a pelletizer machine for production of quality floating pellets,” Ojaamong said.

He further lauded the University of Eldoret for designing and installing 14-metre diameter fish cages in the open waters of Lake Victoria in Bunyala Sub County.

“I also appreciate the role played by the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute for setting up an online Aquaculture Market Information System and procuring fish value addition and post-harvest technologies equipment for beneficiary groups for increased income and improved livelihoods.”

The governor further disclosed that the project aims at increasing the volume of aquaculture production from 1,080 tons to 4,300 tons annually by the end of this year.

Principal Secretary for the State Department of Fisheries Francis Owino, said that there was a need to localize fish culture technologies to increase fish production.

In a speech read on his behalf by the Regional Director Samson Kidera, Owino argued that fishpond technology transforms wastelands into fish production hotspots within flooding areas.

He further stated that Kenya has been ranked as the fourth largest farmed fish producer in Africa with production capacity of 20,000 metric tons.

By Salome Alwanda

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