Kisumu County commemorated the annual aquaculture day, an event celebrated yearly every 20th of May.
The event is the brain child of the Aquaculture Business Development Programme (ABDP) launched on the 29th September,2020.
This year’s theme is Promoting Sustainable Aquaculture for Blue Economy Growth. Therefore, sustainable management and development is crucial in preserving the resources for the future generations
The objective of the event is to bring together aquaculture stakeholders for exchange of knowledge and skills, showcase innovations along the various nodes of aquaculture value chain and give the aquaculture the national prominence it deserves.
The celebrations were held at Rota Hatchery, Central Kisumu Ward, in Kisumu West Sub County, while the National celebrations is being be held in Homa Bay County.
While presiding over the event, the CECM for Agriculture, Irrigation, Livestock and Fisheries, Hon. Kenn Onyango noted that with the growing population the demand for fish increases and the natural resources are increasingly stressed.
He reiterated that the County department of Fisheries is committed to promoting fisheries activities through restocking of ponds, providing farmers with fingerlings, capacity building and provision of inputs.
The Aquaculture business development program has supported fish farmers in Kisumu with 3,496 bags of fish feeds and 423,000 fingerlings.
On needs assessments, 282 farmers have received pond liners and 587 predator kits all geared towards boosting production, productivity, food security as well as quality diet for smallholder farmers.
The program has supported 48 smallholder aquaculture groups (SAGs) with the target being 51. 10 SAGs will be supported to start fish field schools.
14 SAGs he said have been trained on gender action learning systems (GALS) while 48 SAGs trained on gender youth and nutrition (GYN). Farmers have also been taken through the participatory rural appraisals and came up with 14 community action plans.
The program has also supported farmers on exchange programs, feed formulation trainings and hatchery management.
Kisumu has reached 911 direct beneficiaries as it targets to reach 1544 farmers.
On his part, the Chief Officer for Agriculture, Irrigation, Livestock and Fisheries, Mr. John Likoko expressed optimism with the ongoing works in the aquaculture sector.
He urged the fish farmers and the youths to take advantage of the various value chain nodes in the aquaculture sector having been trained on the available opportunities within the value chain from production to the market.
Mr. Likoko further stated that Kisumu has a great potential on aquaculture production and that is why the County Government is promoting it among the local farmers.
The project coordinator, Mr. Kenneth Luga emphasized the need for sustainability aspects in ensuring the project survives beyond the funding period.
The event was graced by: a representative of the County Commissioner madam Rose, area Sub County Commissioner, area Chief, a representative from the state department of fisheries and blue economy, officers from the county fisheries docket, farmers, exhibitors among other invited guests.
The ABDP program is jointly funded by the Government of Kenya and IFAD it is being implemented in 15 counties.
The goal is to reduce poverty and increase food security and nutrition in rural communities. The objective of the program is to increase food security, nutrition status of wider communities of poor rural households involved in aquaculture in targeted counties.
