Kiambu fish farmers have received Sh47 million donations to help increase fish production.
Some 2,059 value chain actors in aquaculture within six subcounties will get pond liners, net sets, motorcycles, laptops and a vehicle.
The six subcounties include Kikuyu, Lari, Limuru, Gatundu North, Gatundu South and Thika.
Governor James Nyoro said fish farming in Kiambu has potential to help farmers earn and contribute to the county food basket.
Nyoro spoke during the ceremony at the county headquarters in Kiambu on Wednesday.
"Fish farming in the county complements other agricultural ventures like crop production and livestock productions,” he said.
Nyoro said the county will also provide chicken farmers with kienyeji chickens and is looking forward to reviving the pig rearing project.
He said though there is a court tussle with the famous Uplands bacon factory, the county has appealed the case and will be engaging farmers with the outcome.
"Some 240 acres of Uplands bacon factory was grabbed and the court case outcome was biased. We appealed the case since the land was given out illegally by the state yet the land belonged to the uplands people," Nyoro said.
He said the county produces 354 million litres of milk annually.
The governor said his government has started issuing pasteurisers, coolers, weighing machines and other incentives so as to increase milk production.
This, he says, is done inconjunction with milk production cooperatives
He added that his government has revived coffee production and has brought all cooperatives together so that farmers have a voice in the sale.
He has also bought fertilisers worth Sh50 million.
Nyoro said the county has given farmers seedlings and fertiliser and has engaged over 1,000 village based advisors to train farmers on best crop varieties to plant in different areas for high yields.
Agriculture executive Joseph Kamau said that the national government in collaboration with International Fund for Agricultural Development is supporting the aquaculture value chain through Agriculture Business Development Programme.
He said that the programme is an eight year venture being implemented in 15 counties.
"The 16 wards in the six subcounties of Kiambu were selected based on IFAD criteria that considered key parameters like water resources, current state of aquaculture and poverty index," Kamau said.
The executive said that Kiambu is producing 75 per cent tilapia and 25 per cent catfish.
He said fish production is the third beneficiary in funding from milk production and coffee production.
The project will seek to improve production, processing, and marketing as well as change the fish-eating culture.
Farmers however, said that they have challenges with fish feeds, quality fingerlings and they are often exploited.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)
