Fish farmers in Kakamega have been gifted pond liners worth Sh33 million by the county government. Governor Fernandes Barasa distributed 768 Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) liners to local farmers at the Lutonyi Fish Processing factory on Friday.
The initiative aims to diversify income sources beyond sugar cane cultivation by boosting fish farming. “Our goal is to ensure both our farmers and the county achieve food security,” Barasa stated. Food security is a key element of his six-point plan to transform the county.
This effort, in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development through the Aquaculture Business Development Program, will benefit farmers across all 12 constituencies in the county. In addition, Barasa provided 15,000 kg of sunflower seeds to 6,840 farmers, who will plant them over 5,000 acres to enhance food production.
The sunflower project, a joint venture with the Agriculture and Food Authority, aims to produce 4,000 tonnes of sunflower and one million liters of oil, potentially worth Sh200 million. The county government will also support fish farmers with fingerlings, feed, and predator nets to maximize aquaculture’s potential. The first distribution will occur in Matungu, Mumias West, and Malava constituencies.
Approximately 6,976 farmers will benefit from this initiative, with around 9,988 fish ponds in the county capable of yielding over 1,798 tonnes of fish within seven months. Local fish farmers have expressed their appreciation for the support but also requested that the Kakamega Fish Factory prioritize purchasing their fish before sourcing from other regions.
Cyrus Akhonya, a farmer from Lurambi constituency, emphasized the need for local farmers to be given precedence. “While we appreciate the governor’s assistance, we urge him to ensure that the factory supports local farmers first,” Akhonya said.
Last year, Kakamega secured a notable deal to export 10 tonnes of fish weekly to Italy, making it the first county to achieve such an agreement. The factory, meeting both local and international standards, is now authorized to export fish to Dubai, the UK, the Netherlands, and 27 other European countries.
