Echo Network Africa and Menonite Economic Development Associates of Canada have donated assorted equipment for cage fish production worth Sh6 million to women in Homa Bay County in Kenya.
The two groups said the move aims to empower women in fishing industry. 100 women from Litare, Wakula, Kaugege and Mrongo beaches in Mbita sub-County benefited from the donation. Among the items they received were motorized boat for carrying harvested fish, solar coolers for preserving fish, machines for processing fish feeds and solar lamps.
Echo Network Africa CEO Jennifer Riria, Menonite Programmes Manager Walter Tinega and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga’s representative Jack Obonyo made the distribution. The women also received fish cages in which each beach got one cage. The cages are used for rearing fish in Lake Victoria. They also received training on how to handle the equipment.
Stable source of income
“We started this project to enable the women in these beaches get a stable source of income. The project will cushion women from sexual exploitation by enabling them to produce fish on their own. What predisposes women to sexual abuse by fishermen is poverty. But this projects makes women custodians of fish hence good money. Once women are empowered, those who want to abuse them will not get the opportunity,” said Dr Riria.
“We have also trained them on financial management to ensure they plan well and get maximum profit from the aquaculture project. Aquaculture is an important project since it boosts food security. The county government will support the project,” Tinega said. Obonyo, who read Governor Wanga’s speech, said the county government will support the project to ensure its sustainability.
“Aquaculture is an important project since it boosts food security. The county government will support the project,” Obonyo said. Women who will benefit from the project welcomed more initiatives aimed at empowering them economically.
