Sh365 million spent on fish farming in Western Kenya

Kenya:  Addressing the press in Kitale town yesterday, Munara said the money was used to dig ponds and buying fingerlings in 24 constituencies under the economic stimulus programme.

He said the work was allocated to more than 80,000 youths under the Kazi Kwa Vijana programme. ''The initiative realised more than 500,000 tonnes of fish,'' he said. “We are encouraging our farmers to rear fish because it takes a small space and grows faster compared to other farming activities”  said Munara.

He said people living in swampy areas ought to take advantage of water availability in the soils to rear fish. ''More fish factories are coming up and farmers should engage in the activities to provide the factories with raw materials,'' he said. He said currently, most financial institutions were giving out loans to fish farmers which will enhance fish productivity in the region.

Munara said the Ministry of Fisheries is collaborating with the Kenya Marine Fisheries Research System where an SMs service system will be used to market fish. Munara reiterated the need for farmers to practice fish sex reversed breed where female fish can be transformed into males through the use of a chemical after 21 days. “Male fish grows faster up to 30 percent than females and farmers can change females to male by using methyl testosterone hormone which will enable fish weigh 0.5 kg at eight months” said Munara.

Source: The-star.co.ke