Vision
A vibrant sustainable fisheries industry that effectively contributes to food security, industrialisation and wealth creation.
Mission
To facilitate sustainable management of fishery resources and products for accelerated socio-economic development.
During the last financial year 2009/2010, the Government injected Sh 1.12billion to implement the fish farming enterprise and productivity programme under the auspices of the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) in 140 Constituencies across the country.
The Fish farming Enterprise Productivity Programme (FFEPP) phase 11 which is being implemented under The Economic Recovery, Poverty Alleviation and Regional Development Programme (ERPARDP)
Phase 11 covers 160 constituencies, an additional 20 over the previous figure.
Under Phase 1, some 200 fish ponds were constructed and stocked in the 140 constituencies. The programme has registered considerable success with the increase in aquaculture production as well as easing pressure on our traditional fishing sources.
During the current 2010/2011 financial year, the Government has allocated Sh 2.866 billion for Phase 11 of the Fish Farming Programme.
These funds will be used in;
Construction of 300 ponds in an 20 additional constituencies, and construction of another 100 ponds in 140 constituencies that were under phase 1;
Construction of shallow three shallow reservoirs in each of the 160 Constituencies;
-
Purchase of liners for fish farmers;
-
Purchase of fingerlings;
-
Purchase of fish feeds and
-
Construction of 80 mini fish processing, cold storage and marketing facilities
Aquaculture in Kenya
Aquaculture is the growing of aquatic organisms in warm fresh waters, cold fresh waters and in marine waters. Globally, aquaculture production is competing at 50:50 % with the capture fisheries production. However, aquaculture production in Kenya is only 2.5% of the national fisheries production.
The Basis for Aquaculture as a Business
Traditionally, Kenyans have engaged in aquaculture to provide food at the household level. There is need to invest in it as a business. In particular, one needs to make two very important decisions, on site selection and fish species to be farmed.
Site Selection
The suitability of the site is important and the following checklist is a useful guide:
-
Do you wish to farm marine water fish or fresh water fish?
-
Is the site well drained and well above flood-prone areas?
-
Does the site have a slope suitable for proposed design of the production facilities?
-
Does the site have soil suitable for pond construction (if earth ponds are planned)?
-
Does the site have sufficient and good quality water supply?.
Species Selection
Warm fresh water species
If one is farming in an area with warm fresh water areas, the species to select are:
Cold fresh waters
If one is farming in an area with cold water areas, the species to select is Trout. The particular species in Kenya is the Rainbow trout.
Marine water areas
In marine salt waters, the species to chose are:
-
Prawns
-
Oysters
-
Sea weeds
-
Milk fish (Chanos chanos)
-
Grey mullet (Mugel cephalus)
-
Red tilapia-for the Blackish waters
-
Groupers-for cage culture in the open sea
Fisheries research facilities
The Ministry of Fisheries has three research facilities, cold water fish farm at Kiganjo, warm water fish farm at Sagana in Kirinyaga District and Sangoro Fish farm in Kisii District.
The Fish Farming Enterprise Productivity Programme
This project is being implemented in 140 constituencies where some 28,000 fish ponds will be constructed at a cost of Kshs 1.12.billion under the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP). This was initiated by the government to address vagaries occasioned by the world economic recession.
The regions selected are endowed with water resources that include springs, wetlands, rivers, water reservoirs and temporary water bodies. Aquaculture is practiced in some parts of these areas but in limited scale.
Phase II of this project will integrate harnessing rain water at the household and institutional levels to upscale aquaculture productivity and encourage production of irrigated crops and livestock keeping around fish ponds.
The Ministry recognizes that aquaculture growth and development (the fastest growing of the production sectors in the world – at 18.8 % per year) will play an important role in addressing the problems of the youth and at the same time improve food production, alleviate poverty and create employment.
Why aquaculture?
declared Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of up to 200 nautical miles. The marine fish production potential is estimated at 150,000 MT per year. The potential, therefore, is huge.
Aquaculture potential in the country is enormous (currently contributes 2.5 % to our fishery while it has potential to contribute close to 50 % to Kenya’s fishery output). Being a food production sub sector, aquaculture can positively contribute towards food security, generate income and create the much needed gainful employment for the youth.
Goals of the project
To produce food, create employment and generate income, particularly for the unemployed youth and the associated households, through sustainable aquaculture enterprises.
Project sustainability
To encourage sustainability, the Ministry shall:
1. Enter into Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with private fish hatcheries for the supply of quality fingerling supply to the clusters
2. Encourage fingerling production and feed formulation enterprises at Cluster level to eventually minimize the role of the Ministry