This archive report was first published on 5 November 2021.
On November 5, 2021, the government of Kenya made a significant move to support the fish farming sector by donating 100,000 Nile Tilapia fingerlings to fish farmers in Siaya County. The donation was made by Victoria Farms Limited, a private sector player, in a bid to foster close partnership with the government to address the challenges facing the sector.
The donation was received by over 100 fish farmers drawn from six sub-counties of Siaya County. The availability of quality fish seed and feeds continues to be a major challenge in the sector, accounting for a huge percentage of the overall cost of production, according to Dr. Francis Owino, the Fisheries Principal Secretary.
Dr. Owino, who spoke to the beneficiaries at the Siaya County fisheries offices through Deputy Director Titus Kilonzi, emphasized the need for the private sector to complement the government's efforts in addressing the existing gaps in the sector. He noted that the growing focus on aquaculture, occasioned by the increased pressure on the country's water bodies, has seen more involvement and interventions by the private sector.
Dr. Owino expressed confidence that the government is on the right track in addressing the challenges in the sector and meeting the increased per capita demand for fish. He also stated that the government is making deliberate efforts towards spurring economic transformation and positively impacting on the lives of Kenyans.
Siaya County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for agriculture and fisheries, Dr. Elizabeth Odhiambo, called on the residents to embrace aquaculture, adding that fish production in the county was not at the optimal level. She noted that the county had registered a drop in fish production in the last financial year, realizing only 28,000 metric tons of fish, which cannot satisfy the local market.
By Philip Onyango
