- The official affirmed that ABDP will also give grants to Nyeri and Vihiga counties.
- The grants project will also cover Tanzania and Mozambique to empower fish farmers in Africa.
Image: ROBERT OMOLLO
Fish farmers in Migori have received Sh1.2 million from the Norland Ggrant under the Aquaculture Business Development Programme to boost the fishing industry in South Nyanza region.
ABDP national coordinator Sammy Macharia confirmed that the programme will support fish farmers in the county to fill nutrition gaps and build capacity for the agribusiness fishing community in the county.
“As we aim to capacity build fisherfolk in Migori, ABDP will also ensure the creation of smart kiosks to help fishmongers reach more markets,” Macharia said.
The smart kiosks initiative will provide global markets for Kenyans as well as cold storage facilities for fish preservation.
The official affirmed that ABDP will also give grants to Nyeri and Vihiga counties. The grants project will also cover Tanzania and Mozambique to empower fish farmers in Africa.
Migori Fisheries chief officer George Ochola commended the ABDP for considering the county for the grant. He urged the fish farmers to embrace the project to fully benefit from the grant and increase their income.
Ochola announced that the grant will help fund 29 fish cages to boost fish farming in Lake Victoria. He also disclosed that the government has already established cold storage at Got Kachola in Nyatike subcounty to reduce fish losses after harvest.
Rebecca Marito, the acting Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, emphasised the grant’s goal of improving fish production and creating ready markets.
“As we embark on this life-changing project for farmers, I want to congratulate the county government and the farmers for their readiness to embrace the project,” Marito said.
He said the grant will also be used to renovate fish landing sites and cold storage to improve value addition and attract more markets in the South Nyanza region.
Ruth Okeyo, the chairperson of Awendo Samaki fishmongers, praised the efforts of the ABDP to enhance the fishing industry, saying the smart kiosks will act as an important cold storage facility to reduce post-harvest losses and wastage.
“The main problem the fishmongers have been facing at the market is the perishability of the fish. Putting up smart kiosks with installed cold storage in the marketplaces will reduce fish spoilage and boost our daily income,” Okeyo said.