Bondo unveils Sh14m fish cages-for-schools project

43-year-old Mark Owuor shows a completed fish cage. [PHOTO: ISAIAH GWENGI/STANDARD]

The Bondo Constituency Development Fund (CDF) office has identified at least 70 primary schools that will pioneer the ambitious fish cages - for – schools’ project.

The CDF’s flagship project will be implemented in primary schools along the beaches, a project which is projected to cost at least Sh14 million according to the area MP Gideon Ochanda.

The MP estimates that at least 21,000 pupils from primary schools in the region will benefit from the project if approved by the CDF board. Speaking in Usenge, West Yimbo Ward, where he was accompanied by CDF national office board, Ochanda stated that such investments will be used to support school programmes in a sustainable manner.

“This is a project that is going to ensure parents are relieved of the burden of providing some things for their children such as paying for the PTA employed teachers and school feeding programmes,” he said. Through the public-private partnership, the legislator said they are going to give three cages to each primary school at a cost of Sh72,000 each.

According to experts, a cage measuring 2x4 meters is able to accommodate 2,000 fingerling. Each school is, therefore, expected to harvest at least 50,000 fish in one year.

This translates to at least Sh1 million per year. Speaking to The Standard, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Vice Chancellor Prof Stephen Agong’ stated that cage fish farming is the next wave of hope for the lakeside communities. -Isaiah Gwengi