Rarieda, Bondo youth to benefit from Sh300m fishing project
Dunga Cage Culture project manager Mr John Okech adjust the fish cages in Lake Victoria. PHOTO | TOM OTIENO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The confiscation of unapproved nets, monitoring of safety and fish quality by government are meant to ensure a sustainable use of the Lake
- Mr Osumba lamented the sluggish uptake of the loans in Nyanza with Siaya County with the county only benefitting from Sh120 million.
The Government has said that the enforcement of fishing regulations in Lake Victoria is not aimed at suppressing the region’s economy.
Culture and Arts Principal Secretary Mr Joe Robert Okudo said on Sunday that the culture and economy of the Luo community has, over the years, been influenced by the lake and the move was only meant to rein on the use of wrong fishing methods.
Mr Okudo was speaking on Sunday in Bondo town, Siaya County, during the mobilisation tour of 60 youth co-operative societies which will be funded by the government in a trial project to rear fish in metal cages (fish aquaculture).
“Since the lake is key to transforming Nyanza’s economy, seasonal fishing bans are necessary to allow breeding. The confiscation of unapproved nets, monitoring of safety and fish quality by government are meant to ensure a sustainable use of the Lake, ” said the PS.
During the same event, National Youth Fund chairperson Mr Ronnie Osumba announced that the fund will provide Sh300 million to support the fish cage project in Rarieda and Bondo sub counties through cage construction, training, storage, fish feeds and marketing.
Mr Osumba said that in compliance with Affirmative Action, loan applicants would not be asked for any collateral security. This, he said, will ensure wider access of the loan facility by the poor.
He, however, lamented the sluggish uptake of the loans in Nyanza with Siaya County with the county only benefitting from Sh120 million.
Mr Osumba said that Nairobi County was leading in the funds disbursement with the youth having taken up Sh2 billion in the current Financial Year (2016/2017).
The event was also attended by Fisheries Principal Secretary Professor Japhet Ntiba, Director of Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Centre Dr Christopher Aura, Director General of Kenya Fisheries Service Susan Imende, Nyanza Regional Director of Fisheries Robert Wanyama and Fisheries Specialist at Lake Basin Development Authority Rodwick Kundu.
