The newly inaugurated Kabonyo Fisheries Aquaculture Service and Training Centre of Excellence in Kabonyo, Kisumu County is set to produce up to 10 million fingerlings yearly in a bid to boost fish farming in the Lake Victoria Region further bolstering food security and nutrition.
The increase in cage fish farming by Kenyan farmers in Lake Victoria has seen the increasing demand for fingerlings by farmers.
In fact, the latest figures by the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) indicates that there are over 6,000 fish cages on the Kenyan portion of Lake Victoria with each cage having the capacity to produce one tonne of fish annually.
According to KMFRI, the current aquaculture capacity in the lake is 60,000 tonnes of fish annually against annual wild production of fish which stands at 100,000 tonnes.
As a result the Government is escalating investments in aquaculture in the Nyanza Region through the project and other initiatives that will increase the farmers’ access quality fish seed to improve production.
During his recent four-day development tour of the region, President William Ruto said the project will not only broaden employment opportunities but also bolster food production and trade further boosting the economy of the nation.
“Fishery is an integral pillar in the production of food in the country and in addition the Government is constructing eight Fish Landing sites to further boost aquaculture in the area,” said the president during the inaugural of the centre early this month.
“We will ensure the landing sites have cold storage, processing and beach management units to optimise profits,” he added.
Training, research, and innovation
Kabonyo Fisheries Aquaculture Service and Training Centre of Excellence will facilitate training, research, innovation, and best practices in Fisheries and Aquaculture through demonstrations and incubations.
It will also involve adoption, domestication, and selective breeding of Nile Perch, Common Carp, Milk Fish, Tilapia, and Catfish to increase the numbers available to small and large-scale fish farmers.
The centre will offer complimentary sources of production of raw materials for animal feeds and fertilizer; thereby reducing the current inordinate pressure on Lake Victoria and thus allowing for the rejuvenation of the Lake’s fish production.
According to Professor Anyang’ Nyong’o, The Kisumu County Governor, the centre will grow to serve East and Central Africa region and collaborate with regional organisations further making Kisumu a regional hub for aquaculture.
“Some of the beneficiaries of this project will be the immediate Kabonyo Kanyagwal Community, beach management units, smallholders, medium scale producers, research organisations, fisheries and aquaculture services, learning institutions, local administrations, fish traders and processors among other value chain actors,” said
