This archive report was first published on 28 August 2019.
Published on August 28, 2019, Kakamega County has embarked on a plan to boost fish production by distributing 489,000 fingerlings to farmers.
According to Dr. Kelly Nelima, the county chief officer for Livestock and Fisheries Development, the county targets an annual production of two tonnes of fish for local consumption and export.
Dr. Nelima noted that the county currently produces 1,000 kilos of fish annually, which is low compared to the local demand. Most of the fish consumed in Kakamega comes from Port Victoria in Busia County.
“The county is distributing the fingerlings so as to ensure more farmers venture into commercial fish production. Currently, the county has only 2,300 registered fish farmers,” said Dr. Nelima.
The county aims to increase the number of registered fish farmers to 5,000 by 2022, which will enable them to meet the local demand.
Other counties, including Bungoma and Vihiga, have also invested in the fish venture. Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati said his administration will be procuring 50,000 fingerlings every month, which will be given to farmers at a subsidised cost.
In Vihiga, the county government has stored 1.2 million fingerlings at the Mwitokho Fish Farm, which will be distributed to farmers in a plan that will be set up soon.
