IFAD support farmers in Kasipul with fish feeds

Rachuonyo, Tuesday, May 30, 2023

KNA by Moseti Julius

The International fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) has partnered with the government to support fish farmers in Kasipul Constituency improve their production.

The Collaboration under a six (6) year Aquaculture Business Development Programme (ABDP) offered fish farmers feeds worth Sh 1.48 million in which at least 44 beneficiaries were approved for the support after assessing their potentials.

Kasipul sub county fisheries officer George Okech Ogembo urged the farmers to use the feeds correctly to increase fish production, change their livelihood and ensure they were food secured.

“The feeds in total are 352 bags of 25kg grower’s pallet for fish at the ages of 3 months, 5 months and 7-8 months old,” he said.

He said the fish feed support to farmers is funded by International Fund for Agriculture development (IFAD) in conjunction with the government of Kenya through a six (6) year Aquaculture Business Development Programme (ABDP).

The government and IFAD have been supporting fish farmers since the year 2019.

In November 2022 the governmentt gave out 44,000 fingerlings worth Sh 220,000 to fish farmers.          

Last January the government also supplied farmers with 32,000 fingerlings worth Sh. 160,000.

“Equally the government has in the financial year 2021/2022 supplied farmers with 33 pond liners worth Sh 150,000 each and 23 predator nets worth sh.30,000 each,” Mr. Ogembo said.

The officer said the government distribution of the tools started with the pond liners in March 2022.

He said the government had in the financial year 2020/2021 also distributed to farmers 23 liners and 44 predator nets.

“The objective of ABDP is to increase food security in the wider communities of poor rural households, increase nutritional value and create jobs and overall family income ,” he said.

He said ABDP in the country target youths groups, women groups, and vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities in Homa Bay County and other in the country.

The officer said the government this year intends to upscale beneficiaries of the programme by recruiting 60 more farmers. Currently the officer said there are 128 fish farmers benefiting from the programme.

Courtesy ; K. N. A