Homa Bay: Investor Sets Up Hatchery to Produce 30 Million Tilapia Fingerlings
- Kenya has been facing an acute shortage of tilapia, but that might not be the case soon, thanks to an investor in Homa Bay
- Victory Farms has set up an ultra-modern hatchery on the shores of Lake Victoria, capable of producing over 30 million fingerlings every year
- Officials from the Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and Homa Bay county explained how the hatchery will address the fish shortage
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Homa Bay: The fish shortage that the country has been facing for many years may soon be a thing of the past.
Source: Original
While the demand for fish has risen, data from the Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development in the State Department for Blue Economy and Fisheries show that Kenya has a deficit of 450,000 metric tonnes of fish.
Where is Homa Bay's fingerlings hatchery located?
The deficit prompted an investment by Victory Farms, an aquaculture company operating in Rowo village, Suba South constituency. The investor has established an ultra-modern fingerling hatchery, aimed at alleviating the tilapia fish shortage in the country.
According to Steve Moran, co-founder of Victory Farms, the hatchery is expected to produce approximately 30 million tilapia fingerlings per year.
"We were able to produce one fish for every individual in Kenya, but with this hatchery, we intend to produce three fish for each individual in the country," Moran noted.
He added that there has been a huge shortage of tilapia, which is a chief source of protein in not only Homa Bay but also the entire country.
Similar sentiments were shared by the Director of Aquaculture at Kenya Fisheries Service, Simon Macharia.
How Homa Bay fish farmers will benefit from modern hatchery
Macharia said the fingerlings produced at the ultra-modern Homa Bay hatchery will also be used to support farmer groups to rear fish through their aquaculture projects.
"We have noted a constant fish reduction in our lakes for the last decade, and aquaculture has been identified as the most effective way to curb this shortage. We therefore encourage aquaculture in every part of the country since we will have enough fingerlings for our ponds and cages, proudly made in our country," he noted.
Officials from the Kenya Fisheries Service, the county government of Homa Bay's Blue Economy Department, and the Victory Farms founders officially commissioned the hatchery for use on Wednesday, July 29.
Source: Original
The investment has been welcomed by local leaders. Joab Obora, a resident of Kaksingri and a passionate fishmonger, noted that with the fingerlings now near them, he will encourage more locals to put up ponds that will enable them to make money from the comfort of their homes.
"We will now have ready fingerlings, and there should not be an excuse to be dependent," Obora said.
Nakuru CBO transforming fish farming
Previously, TUKO.co.ke reported that a Nakuru-based Community-Based Organisation (CBO) is transforming the lives of many youth through fish farming.
Apart from fish farming, the Greenthumb CBO also deals in processing.
The CBO's founder, James Maina, said the initiative is meant to support youths in the area to grow their agri-business ventures.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Florence Owiti (freelance editor) Florence Owiti is a bold print journalist who covers current affairs topics including politics, climate change, courts and crime, devolution and governance. She has reported for TUKO.co.ke from mid-2022 from Homa Bay and neighbouring counties. She possesses a diploma in journalism and media pursued at Kenya Coast National Polytechnic. You can reach her at flowiti0098@gmail.com.
Joshua Cheloti (Editorial assistant) Joshua Cheloti is a multi-skilled journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. He holds a Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication and is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media and Communication at Mount Kenya University. At TUKO, he's an editorial assistant. Before TUKO, he worked at Nairobi Review as an editorial writer, at Hope Media (Hope TV and Hope FM) as a correspondent in Eldoret, Hivisasa.com digital content editor and online writer, at Biblia Husema Broadcasting (BHB), Eldoret as Radio Presenter. Email: Joshua.cheloti@tuko.co.ke
