- Victory Farms, which is among the private firms undertaking cage fish farming in Lake Victoria, has announced that it has opened its doors for partnership.
- The company currently produces and supplies more than 10,000 metric tons of fish to the market per year.
Image: ROBERT OMOLLO
Image: ROBERT OMOLLO
County governments around Lake Victoria are partnering with a private fish company to increase production.
Experts in fisheries and aquaculture say Kenya has an annual deficit of 270,000 metric tons of fish, which contributes to malnutrition.
The shortage of the commodity has pushed the country to import fish from China, but the supply is still low.
Victory Farms, which is among the private firms undertaking cage fish farming in Lake Victoria, has announced that it has opened its doors for partnership to enable it to sustain high demand for fish in the country.
The company currently produces and supplies more than 10,000 metric tons of fish to the market per year. But this is still way below what Kenyans need.
Victory Farms chief development officer Caesar Asiyo said the only way to supply the countrymen and women with the commodity to meet the demand is through collaboration.
Asiyo said their new approach is not meant to compete with other fish suppliers but to provide solutions to dwindling fish stocks in Kenya.
“Kenya has water resources which can support adequate fish production if utilised prudently. There’s a need to put aside small competitions and collaborate to ensure we address the fish shortage challenge,” Asiyo said.
There are concerns over dwindling number of fish in lakes and other water bodies in Kenya. Experts argue that the shortage has been caused by overfishing and use of wrong gears.
Lake Victoria, which is among the biggest producers of fish, has been affected by the shortage.
Many youths living in counties such as Homa Bay, Migori, Kisumu, Siaya and Busia practice fishing as their economic activity in Lake Victoria.
According to Asiyo, the company is out to seek partnership with the counties to address the challenges that bedevil the lake and to ensure sustainable production of fish.
Speaking on Tuesday when he witnessed the official opening of the company's 80th sales outlets in Bondo town in Siaya, Asiyo in company of the county executive for Agriculture and Fisheries Sylvester K’Okoth said they are training youths on modern and safe fishing methods.
Victory Farms has been recognised by the Kenyan government as one of the cage fish farming companies that complies with fisheries laws and regulations to produce fish.
Asiyo said they have approached the county governments bordering Lake Victoria to provide solutions to the deficit.
Homa Bay is already producing more than 52,000metric tons of fish. The county has 137 active and operating beaches.
“Through the partnerships, Victory Farms donates fingerlings, fish feeds and standard gears. Training youths and women undergo are meant to empower them,” he added.
In other partnerships, the company is exploring opportunities in aquaculture, aquaponics, irrigation and agriculture.
The company also builds ponds for farmers in the communities. Fish farmers are then given brood stocks where they grow and harvest and sell to the company after maturity.
K’Okoth said Siaya county, which has 84 beaches and more than 7000 cages, produces 30,000 metric tons. The county has 3,230 fish ponds.
The executive officer said fish consumers in Siaya cannot get the much they need despite hosting Lake Victoria, which has the potential to produce large quantities of the delicacy.
K’Okoth was with his Fisheries director Eman K’Oreyo.
Migori has also shown interest in patterning with Victoria Farms after seeing the success stories of employing thousands of residents.
“We are optimistic that partnering with Victory Farms will enable us to provide adequate fish. The company intends give us more than 50, 0000 fingerlings of tilapia,” K’Okoth said.
He said the new player in fish production will help in addressing the deficit besides creating employment for residents.
K’Oreyo said fish production in Siaya has been going down and it is time to look into new ways of ensuring the supply is increased and maintained. He attributed the problem to pollution of the lake and misuse of the water body.
This explains why some fishermen go as far as Uganda and Tanzania to get fish but end up getting in trouble.
“Kenya imports fish from China but most people prefer locally produced ones. We welcome this partnership to ensure we utilise the lake to produce our own fish,” K’Oreyo said.
Fish traders and food sellers in Bondo welcomed the company to set up one of its outlets in the town saying fish supply has been unpredictable.
Violet Awuor, who operates a food kiosk in Bondo town, said they are unable access fish as required.
“Opening a shop in Bondo town will enhance fish supply. There has been discrimination in fish business and fishermen demand for sex to get you fish,” Awuor said.