Vihiga County government has received Sh69,760,000 grant from Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) to boost aquaculture.
Speaking on Tuesday at Vihiga County Government headquarters while signing a memorandum of understanding between the National Government and Vihiga County Government the Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Hassan Ali Joho said that aquaculture is a very critical frontier the country’s economy.
“Many youths and women will benefit from fish farming by first being self-employed and also employing other people to help them eke a living thus improving our economy,” said Joho.
He challenged more people to venture into fish farming saying it contributes to food security since residents have enough to feed on and sell the surplus.
He urged the farmers to tap into the global demand of aquaculture by exporting fish to countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo which has a high demand for Kenyan tilapia.
He asked fish farmers to look for ways of producing their own fish feeds locally thus cutting down on the cost of buying feeds and improve fish production.
Vihiga County Governor Dr. Wilber Ottichilo thanked the CS and NORAD for the grant saying Vihiga County fish farmers have the capacity to absorb the fund and asked to be considered for more in future as they have a high potential for aquaculture.
The Governor said they have a fish hatchery and an aquaculture training centre at Mwitokho which would benefit the farmers and residents.
He added that they have trained 3,000 youths in agribusiness and 175 youths to become Agri-preneurs who would boost aquaculture in the county.
He further said that 450 fish farmers have been identified across the county and would benefit from the grant.
Amuganda Hughlogia a youthful fish farmer and a beneficiary of the grant thanked the National Government, the County Government and NORAD for considering them promising to do his best to improve aquaculture.
By Maureen Imbayi