Fish farmers, stakeholders and county officials from the four sub counties implementing Aquaculture Business Development Project, today converged at the Golf Hotel in Kakamega to review the progress, challenges for the FY 2022/23 and to chart the adjustments required to improve aquaculture in the region.
The meeting brought on board aquaculture stakeholders across the divide to review the current situation and existing challenges, identify the gaps in the implementation of ABDP in order to coordinate, harmonize and optimize synergies for higher returns in aquaculture.
Speaking during the official opening of the workshop, the County Director for fisheries Madam Susan Adhiambo who represented both the CECM and the Chief Officer, Agriculture, Irrigation, Livestock and Fisheries Hon Kenn Onyango and Mr. John Likoko called on the implementing officers and the farmers to be open minded in discussions in order to bring out issues and challenges that needs to be given attention moving forward.
She challenged the implementers to consider embracing the digital space to offer extension services and also in sharing data information.
On his part, the County Programme Coordinator, Mr. Kenneth Luga said the review was critical in ensuring food security, increase on income and the nutritional value among the poor rural.
He reiterated that moving forward the use of technology will be critical in relaying information such as the kobo collect that is used in data collection.
He further urged farmers not to wait for the programme but continue restocking their ponds. Concerning quality feeds and fingerlings he advised the farmers to liaise with the office that will link them to the suppliers. He also implored on them to keep records so that incase of any issue arising then the supplier can be traced and held liable.
The programme’s Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Mr. Kevin Munira gave a presentation on the county’s score card, the achievements against the annual work plan, challenges experienced during the FY 2022/23 and the possible solutions.
The County Nutrition Coordinator, Rael Mwando raised concern about the 80% of children in Kisumu consuming diet deficit in Vitamin A and 36% antenatal care women with HB less than 11gm/DL (KHIS, 2023) when fish is being used as an entry point on matters nutrition in schools.
She explained that fish is key to nutrition, hence farmers should ensure that whatever they are producing should also be fed on by the family and not only for income purposes. She added that such best practices once introduced in selected schools, should be embraced by the rest of the schools and the children should be encouraged to share the information with their parents to embrace the same for the county to be nutrition and food secure.
While closing the meeting, Madam Linet Wanyama who represented the County Commissioner, thanked all participants and called on them to remain committed for the programme is an essential component in ensuring food security.
The workshop provided the platform for all the sub county fisheries officers Mr. George Mokua, Mr. Gilbert Mutai, Mr. Walter Koskei and madam Aphlyne Aoko who implement the ABDP programme give presentation on the achievements, challenges and possible solutions moving forward. There was also a plenary for providing solutions to the challenges highlighted.
The various stakeholders from the line sector such as Captain feeds, Kisfish, AAK, Aquarech among others also used the session to link the farmers to their products.
