The stakeholders and County officials from the four sub counties implementing Aquaculture Business Development Project, converged at the Empolos Hotel in Nakuru, to review the progress, challenges for the FY 2023/24 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 while officially opening the workshop, the Chief Officer Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Blue Economy, Mr. Erick Omondi Ogallo, advised that the government is currently focusing on value Chain that needs to be taken seriously.
He also urged the stakeholders to consider adopting peer-to-peer review where farmers can learn from their fellow farmers the best practices and that it would make the work easier when it comes to annual review.
Mr. Ogallo called upon the participants to be open and critic themselves objectively.
County Director for fisheries Madam Susan Adhiambo said the session was the fourth review meeting where the stakeholders are to take stock of what happened in the financial year, critic and add value to improve the production.
On his part, the County Director Livestock and Vet services, Mr. Charles Kakuku, called on the technical expertise to give farmers real technical advice required to improve their production.
The programme’s technical Officer, Mr. Collins Otieno gave a presentation on behalf of the CPC Mr. Kevin Wamira on the county’s scorecard, the achievements against the annual work plan, challenges experienced during the FY 2023/24 and the possible solutions.
The County Nutrition Coordinator, Rael Mwando noted the cordial working relationship between the ABDP project officers and the Health department in promoting nutrition issues among the members of the community using fish and vegetables.
The workshop provided the platform for all the sub county fisheries officers Ms. Mary Adhiambo from Nyando, Mr. Gilbert Mutai from Muhoroni, Mr. Stephen Opole from Nyakach and Mr. Vincent hagai Hwaga from Kisumu West who implement the ABDP programme to make presentations on the achievements, challenges and possible solutions moving forward. There was also a plenary for providing solutions to the challenges highlighted.
The technical officers in the project also had an opportunity to clean their data in order to have an accurate data presentation on the ground, especially of the bonafide beneficiaries of the project.
The various stakeholders from the line sector such as Assistant County Commissioner, Lucy Boaz, NEMA representative, and a representative from the State department of Fisheries, Mr. Patrick Orwa also attended.
