Some 450 fish farmers in Vihiga county have received a significant boost after a non-governmental Organization provided them with fingerlings and fish feeds.
The Norwegian Agency for Development Corporation (NORAD), through the Advancing Resilient Nutrition Sensitive Aquaculture Project (ARNSA) implemented under the Aquaculture Business Development Project (ABDP) supplied the farmers with 450,000 fingerlings and 3600 bags of fish feeds
Speaking during the event at the county headquarters in Mbale, area governor Dr. Wilber Ottichilo expressed his appreciation to NORAD for their support in uplifting aquaculture in the area.
Dr. Ottichilo said the county has the potential to produce fish in bulk and make Vihiga to be among the top in fish farming.
“Let’s do as we are required and once we succeed, we will be the one leading and any challenge experienced will be addressed,” he said.
The governor noted that the initiative lays ground for a more comprehensive Aquaculture Business Development Programme in the next phase.
Dr. Ottichilo challenged more people to venture into fish farming saying it contributes to food security, as well as providing the much-needed nutrients in the body.
He also assured farmers that there was a ready market for fish locally and internationally, driven by increasing demand and a potential profitable aquaculture.
The governor asked fish farmers to strive and make their own fish feeds locally, which cuts down on the overall costs, thus improving fish production.
Dr. Ottichilo urged school principal involved in fish farming in the county to ensure the exercise is taken seriously, calling upon them to encourage students to take interest in fisheries studies as a way of making sure they get experts in that area.
” I am calling upon school heads to make sure the youngsters are fully involved, with a view to encouraging this generation to take over fish farming as a serious business and act as future pioneers,” the governor reiterated.
Nyang’ori Boys High school is one of the institutions that received fingerlings. Other institutions that benefited include Moi Girls Vokoli.
The governor assured farmers that going forward the county will prioritize producing fingerlings from Mwitoko fish hatchery, currently undergoing renovation for the benefit of farmers and the residents at large.
Meanwhile, Vihiga has also procured a vehicle and three motorcycles that will be used to facilitate officers to reach the farmers and offer advice on how to carry on with fish farming, and also nets to help thwart predators.
On his part, the Deputy National Programme Coordinator, Aquaculture Business Development Program, Dr. Isaac Wamalwa, urged farmers and residents to invest in aquaculture, as there was a huge demand for fish.
“A fish deficit of 400,000 metric tons is a significant gap in the supply of fish that is potentially impacting food security, so make use of the opportunity and support given to you in terms of fish feeds, fingerlings, value addition as well as the available market to grow the business to a higher level,” Wamalwa said.
The fish farmers in Vihiga are expected to offer a 44 percent in-kind contribution towards the project.
The Aquaculture Business Development Project supports 16 counties, including Vihiga, which was recently considered to be part of the project.
By Rose Wasike
