This archive report was first published on 19 July 2020.
On July 17, 2020, the State Department of Fisheries, Livestock and Cooperatives unveiled an innovative aquaphonic demonstration unit in Mukaa sub-county, Makueni county, to boost fish farming in the region.
Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) for Fisheries, Livestock and Cooperatives, Linah Kilimo, explained that the demonstration unit at Kwothithu secondary school aims to train fish farmers on modern fish food production technologies, enhancing food production and income generation.
"The objective is to use the unit for training and learning purposes for fish farmers and the youth who are more receptive to the use of technology in farming," said Ms. Kilimo.
Ms. Kilimo highlighted the benefits of aquaphonics, a technique that raises fish and soil-less growth of plants in one integrated system using water as the medium of growth, which saves space and provides healthy products to farmers.
"The fish will be an alternative source of protein for farmers and their families, and especially with the rise of non-communicable diseases," she noted.
Ms. Kilimo added that the technology is climate smart, using solar energy to drive the water pump and recycling the water for sustainable use of water and land resources.
"With aquaphonics, there is no evaporation like on other water open sources like ponds," she said.
The CAS disclosed that 35 other counties have benefited from the demonstration unit, which is part of the government's big four agenda on food security.
Assistant Director for Fisheries at the National Aquaculture Research Development and Training Centre in Sagana, Raphael Mbaluka, explained that the unit consists of four fish rearing tanks, hydroponic sub-system with pipes, a bio-filter tank, a sump tank, and a greenhouse.
Makueni Chief Officer for Agriculture, Martin Mboloi, expressed support for the project, noting that 80 percent of residents in the county rely on farming.
