North Rift farmers take to aquaculture

What began like a hobby is slowly but surely growing into a lucrative business, as North Rift residents embrace fish farming as an alternative source of income.

Traditionally, residents relied heavily on maize and wheat farming, besides dairy production for their income. However, fish farming is proving to be among the fastest growing commercial ventures in the region.

Statistics from the fisheries department indicate that more than 300 farmers in the area have adapted fish farming. To enable them embrace the new investment, Moi University’s department of fisheries and marines provides them with fish-lings and sensitises them on modern fish farming techniques, including construction of ponds.

According to the head of the department Dr Boaz Kaunda, Nile patch, tilapia and cat fish are the common breed of fish reared by the farmers. “The high cost of farm inputs has forced some farmers in the region to adapt fish farming, which they consider to be less expensive and fetches attractive market prices,” he says.

He adds that there is an unlimited market for fish in the region, due to a change in the eating habits of most residents, who unlike before are now consuming food.

Supplying proteins

Dr Kaunda says fish production from aquaculture amounted to 1,012 metric tonnes in 2008 valued at more than Sh138 million. “Besides supplying proteins for good health, Aquaculture is providing employment, income and contributing towards poverty reduction,” he adds.

The lecturer challenges the government to give the sector more prominence in national planning and resource allocation to motivate farmers. Mr Philip Maritim, a farmer from Kapsaret in Uasin Gishu District, has never regretted switching from food crops and dairy production to fish farming.

“Initially, I ventured into rearing of ornamental fish as a hobby but it has proved to be a more lucrative venture compared to growing food or keeping cows,” he says. On his one acre piece of land, he pumped in Sh40,000 two years ago, and constructed five fish ponds, two of which are for ornamental fish.

These fetch high prices as one fish goes for as high as Sh800. Mr Maritim says he generates an average of Sh5,000 a week from the three fish ponds for the Nile patch, tilapia and cat fish. “The demand for fish in the region exceeds supply. Clients have to make early booking if they have to receive supply,” he says.

Motivated by the lucrative returns, the farmer has introduced ‘flying fish’ in water buckets to breed fingerlings, which he sells to his neighbours who have also adopted the business.

But the farmers are faced with some challenges. Lack of proper marketing channels and poor infrastructure is discouraging some of them from engaging in it. “Fish is a perishable commodity and proper roads should be constructed to enable farmers to access markets easily,” says Samuel Kirui, a farmer from Nandi North district.