Can New Technology Boost Kenya's Fish Farm Industry

The Minister of Fisheries in Kenya, Dr Paul Otuoma called on the communities along the lake region to embrace aquaculture as a way of bridging the fish shortage gap and also ensure that they have surplus for export.

Dr Abila said the research in natural waters is meant to solve the problem of dwindling fish stocks, adding that rearing fish in new husbandry method requires more caution. The technology can pause environmental hazards to the lake and can also be costly and time consuming as it requires regular testing of water quality.

Farmers who adopted the husbandry in November last year are set to harvest their first yield in two weeks time. "The fish have already attained a weight of 300 to 400 grammes," said Dr Abila. The fisheries and marine body has also embarked on another pilot project in Lake Victoria.

Through the technology, farmers can rear fish in cages with natural and artificial ecosystems, boosting production in fish ponds. The cages can accommodate between 1,000 and 10,000 fish. The project was piloted in a dam in Nyando District and farmers in Nyakach, Bomet, Kisii and Machakos districts are already using the technology, said Dr Richard Abila, a researcher at the institute.

The current government objectives mainly focus on alleviating poverty, increase food production and focus on environment degradation. Since independence, the availability of major food items has grown more slowly than the population growth rate. Several strategies are considered including increased intensity of application of existing techniques, raising the genetic potential of staple and cash crops, fish and livestock and also diversification into areas with potential (e.g. aquaculture).

Consequently, a major priority development need of the Government of Kenya is to improve or introduce alternative, sustainable, low-cost family and community initiatives which will increase protein available for domestic use, and also generate income and reduce poverty. One such initiative is to increase the production of protein from aquaculture and fisheries.

Water limitation and easier land utilization options governed by unknown rate of return on investment have contributed significantly to slow growth in aquaculture. In Kenya, fish farming is seen as a marginal and risky investment. The potential yield of cultured fish depends on water temperature, altitude and local climatic conditions. Such areas suitable for agriculture are also likely to be suitable for aquaculture, resulting in competing demand for land use.

This article is courtesy http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9382&Itemid=5811 and http://www.fao.org/docrep/007/y5641e/y5641e09.htm