This archive report was first published on 22 August 2020.
Busia County is set to benefit from a 60 million shilling project to construct a modern fish market in Busia town, courtesy of the World Bank and the Kenya Devolution Support Program (KDSP).
According to sources, the project is expected to be complete in a month, providing a much-needed upgrade to the current makeshift structure, Soko Matope, which has been in use for over 30 years.
County Director for Fisheries Timothy Odende emphasized the importance of increasing fish production and preventing wastage, stating that the county government is working on modalities to achieve this.
He noted that this will be done through facilitating sub-counties to develop aqua-parks to produce fish, as well as partnering with Edgerton University to build capacity in fish processing.
Chief Officer for Agriculture Moses Weunda also highlighted the potential of the fish sector, stating that if well tapped into, it could generate enormous revenue and resources for the county.
Traders, led by their Chairperson Francis Aketch, have urged the county government to secure loans for the traders to purchase cages, enabling them to effectively participate in the fish value chain.
