Aqua shops end fish farmers’ woes

By Kenan Miruka

Kisii County

Fish farmers in Kisii County have benefitted from aqua centres set up by the Government to address emerging challenges.

Through the ambitious Economic Stimulus Programme, the Government provided free fingerlings and feed to farmers to encourage them take up the venture.

However, a new challenge emerged since the farmers lacked knowhow on fish rearing and were unable to harvest at the right time.

Many farmers recorded losses, selling their fish at throwaway prices to locals who hardly consume fish. Others had their fish swept away by floods during heavy rains.

Boost Wealth Creation

To address these challenges, the Kenya Agricultural Productivity and Agribusiness Project (Kapap) has come up with interventions to boost wealth creation among rural small-scale farmers.

Kapap and aquaculture experts have established aqua shops where farmers get extension services, inputs and marketing services.

“We have enlisted a total of 1,500 farmers under the project in 12 divisions and 96 zones in the larger Gucha region. Farmers have been taught on good management practices and value addition,” says Elizabeth Nyanchiri, an aquaculture expert.

The Samaki Centres are one-stop shops where farmers can get inputs and technical advice.

Nicodemus Mogoi, a farmer from Moteiribe in Kenyenya District, says the centres have revolutionised fish farming in the area.

“Previously, we harvested fish but didn’t know where to sell. Now, we sell to the aqua centres, which then market the produce in bulk, relieving farmers of the burden,” says Mogoi.

Mrs Nyanchiri is the Managing Director of Spring Valley Fish Farm, contracted by the Government to enhance farmers’ skills, increase fish productivity through value addition and establish markets.

“Farmers faced myriad challenges ranging from predation that reduced harvests, lack of inputs and access to markets,” said Nyanchiri.

Group Marketing

While working as a lecturer at Busoga University in Uganda, she was engaged by USAid to work with fish farmers and witnessed first-hand how they made money from the value chain.

Armed with that experience, she established two fishponds at a cost of Sh5,000 and the harvest was impressive.

“First, we addressed predation by teaching farmers how to secure their fish ponds with manila twines and spikes. We equipped them with knowledge on the right species like the Nile Tilapia and the African Cat fish, which grow faster,” she said.

At the aqua centres, farmers benefit from group marketing where experts oversee net harvesting, acclimatise the fish and provide storage facilities before delivering to the market.