The State Department for Fisheries has rolled out a programme to boost fish farming in 15 select high potential Counties to enhance investment in the venture.
According to the Fisheries Principal Secretary Dr. Francis Owino, the venture is a core part of the government’s agenda of ensuring food security.
The PS said under the Aquaculture Business Development Program (ABDP), farmers will be empowered to start their own fishponds and added that the Ministry will provide adequate extension services.
Speaking at Kiaga Fish and Chicken Feed Processing Plant in Kirinyaga ,Dr. Owino said fish farming was the simplest compared to other forms especially dairy, coffee, and tea which are all labor-intensive besides the heavy inputs and feeds
“With modern fish farming you only need to dig a pond, put liners then fill it with water and stock it with fingerlings and the rest is just throwing the feeds into the water at all corners of the pond,” Dr Owino said.
He said one only required to feed the fish twice a day mainly morning and evening while such a farmer could still engage in other activities, unlike crop or dairy farming.
“The other beauty of fish farming is the fact that one does not require the costly veterinary services, once you feed you are done,” Owino said.
He was at the Kirinyaga plant to distribute liners and feeds to selected farmers in all the five local sub counties.
At the same time Dr Owino commissioned five extension officers to provide technical services to the area fish farmers in all the five sub-counties.
He urged the beneficiaries to follow the set guidelines provided by the technical team and assured them that within a period of between six to eight months, the fish would be ready for harvest and marketing.
The PS asked the county government to ensure successful implementation of the project to the end since Agriculture is a devolved function.
By Mutai Kipngetich
