By Robert Manyara
Busia County, Kenya; Busia Governor H.E Sospeter Ojaamong has unveiled investments in the Aquaculture infrastructure his government has undertaken in collaboration with other partners.
In a speech read on his behalf by Deputy Governor Moses Mulomi during the inaugural National Aquaculture Day at Fisheries grounds in Busia Town on Thursday, the Governor cited that tilapia and catfish hatchery at Wakhungu in Samia Sub County is capable of producing two million fingerlings The other hatcheries are at Butula and Okerebwa in Teso South.
The County Chief said others include government open water Aquaculture Park (cages) in Samia Sub County, on land aquaculture parks in Samia, Butula, Teso South, Matayos and Nambale Sub Counties.
Robert Manyara
Other aquaculture infrastructures include one complete self-contained hostel with a 21-bed capacity for training and extension support at Wakhungu, a fish trans-shipment market at the Busia border point, and a cottage fish feed plant at Nasewa in Matayos Sub County.
The Governor noted that the Busia aquaculture development objective is to increase the value of aquaculture production from Sh200million to at least Sh1b annually by 2022, attain 400 per cent Sh1b in the volume of aquaculture production from 1080 tonnes to 4,300 annually by 2022.
H.E Ojaamong thanked the Aquaculture Business Development Programme (ABDP) for according to Busia County an opportunity to host the first-ever aquaculture day celebrations whose theme was “Fish for All, Leaving No One Behind”.
Agriculture CS Peter Munya commended the good work the County Governments are doing in supporting fish farming and aquaculture as a whole, reiterating the commitment of his Ministry to do its part in reciprocating the support from development partners to make these projects and initiatives successful and further develop the sector.
In a speech read on his behalf by Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry Mr Lawrence Omuhaka, the CS said the Aquaculture Business Development Programme (ABDP) is a Kshs 14.9 Billion Programme jointly funded by the Government of Kenya and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Adding that it also had contribution from beneficiaries, with an objective to increase the incomes of rural poor households involved in aquaculture in the targeted counties and the food security and nutritional status of the wider communities.
ABDP aims to benefit over 35,500 households (213,000 beneficiaries) including smallholder aquaculture farmers, input suppliers and aggregators, processors through Public-Private-Producer-
Hon Munya further said, in order to enhance county extension services, the ministry will be distributing motorbikes on a later date, in addition to the vehicles that they have already handed over to the counties, to provide mobility for the extension officers, who will be critical in offering both advisory and supervisory services to the farmers. in reciprocating the support from development partners to make these projects and initiatives successful and further develop the sector.
The CS said the Aquaculture Business Development Programme (ABDP) is a Kshs 14.9 Billion Programme jointly funded by the Government of Kenya and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
The Programme is implemented in 15 counties with high aquaculture potential including Busia.
Hon Munya further said, in order to enhance county extension services, the ministry will be distributing motorbikes on a later date, in addition to the vehicles that they have already handed over to the counties, to provide mobility for the extension officers, who will be critical in offering both advisory and supervisory services to the farmers.
