Role of multilateral development organizations, public and private investments in aquaculture subsector in Kenya

Abstract

Rapid population and economic growth, increased health benefits of aquatic food, and changes in lifestyles and preferences as a result of rapid urbanization and globalization are all contributing to the rapid growth of aquaculture production in Kenya. Despite significant investment efforts from the national and devolved governments as well as donors and international organizations, smallholder aquaculture production is yet to result in a significant increase in incomes and improved food and nutrition security. We conducted a scoping review to investigate the roles of multilateral development organizations, international financial institutions, and public and private investments in Kenya’s aquaculture subsector. We draw on lessons learned from previous projects implemented at the national, county, and farm levels to make recommendations for sustainable aquaculture intensification in Kenya. To unlock Kenya’s aquaculture potential and improve its food and nutrition status, deliberate efforts must be made to create a conducive environment for public and private investment in the industry. First, there is a need to coordinate and clearly articulate the roles and responsibilities among devolved and national governments, donors, and financial institutions through public-private partnerships to ensure optimal allocation of financial, human, and infrastructure resources. Second, more collaborative research should be devoted to the design and construction of climate smart culture systems, developing new species to guarantee supply of high-quality products; developing and scaling low-cost and highly nutritious fish feeds based on novel ingredients; and enhancing resilient livelihoods through innovative aquaculture practices and market linkages to create employment opportunities for youth and women. Finally, the national and devolved governments should create an enabling policy environment through tax incentives and regulatory reforms to combat climate change, protect nature and biodiversity, sustain livelihoods, and mainstream food and nutrition initiatives into the design and implementation of future aquaculture projects.

Management practices and risk factors associated with parasitic infestations in farmed Nile tilapia in Bomet and Kericho counties, Kenya

“…This corroborates with findings of Mavuti et al (2017) [12] where most of the fish farmers in Nyeri County, Kenya, were also involved in coffee and tea farming. Additionally, 69.7% of the farmers in Bomet and 63.6% in Kericho were farming fish for subsistence as a way of diversifying income and providing cheap protein to their family as reported elsewhere [2,3] . A total of 3.4% of the farmers were undertaking fish farming as a hobby and for educational purposes.…”

“…The remaining farmers (2.3%) were practicing polyculture of mixed sex tilapia with catfish. The catfish were added to control tilapia breeding in ponds, a common practice by farmers in Kenya [2] .…”

“…However, due to the market price of these feeds, 41% of farmers used locally available materials to formulate fish feed and 8% did not feed their fish at all. Though homemade rations help in reducing the cost of production, when farmers have no knowledge and skills in fish feed formulations, there is a chance that the feed may be imbalanced, resulting in nutritional deficiency in fish and hence weak immunity [2] and increased level of parasitism [23] . Rivers were the main source of water supplying 52.3% of the ponds.…”

“…There has been surge in fish farming in Kenya, even in some areas where the local population is not native to fish-eating communities, such as those in Kericho and Bomet counties [1] . This surge was initiated by the previous government incentive, The Fish Farming Enterprise Productivity Program (FFEPP), under the economic stimulus program of 2010 [2] . Under the program, the government constructed ponds, subsidized fish feeds and seeds, and hired many fisheries extension officers [3] .…”

“…With increased awareness of the health benefits of fish, including the ability to supply essential nutrients, there is still a deficit in fish supply in Kenya. Therefore, there is a need to diversify economic activities to promote food security and nutrition in Kenya [2,4] . Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is the most commonly cultured fish species because of its ability to grow faster, reproduces easily in captivity under varying environmental conditions; additionally, this species has a low trophic level for feeding and can tolerate stress induced by handling and poor water conditions [3][4][5] .…”