Success Story from ACRSP Ambassador Kenya Nancy Gitonga

Success Story from ACRSP Ambassador - Kenya Nancy Gitonga, Charles C. Ngugi*, Betty Nyandat, and James Bowman *Presenting Author

Activities • Contact with development partners, USAID, JICA FAO missions - leverage funding etc • Regional partners– LVFO – EAC -EU funding aquaculture activities • Development of Aquaculture sites such as Sagana, Kiganjo and Wakhungu • Strengthened Collaboration between Universities, Research institutions and Fisheries Department

The country USAID Mission invited by the Director of Fisheries visited fish farmers in Central and Western Kenya

§They found that farmers were already growing fish at commercial Level. §Began tilapia and catfish seed production in their hatcheries

At Wakhungu fish farm - developed by Fisheries Department §Hatching tanks are used to raise catfish as bait for Lake Victoria Nile perch §Officers sent for training in Egypt and Thailand §They have commenced all male tilapia culture

We took the USAID mission to Moi University where a short course on Hatchery management was going on

We even had a photo session with visiting Ugandan MPs, trainees and Moi University Management

And more interaction with others Visitors at Moi University

Results from these visits • Kenya Business Development Services floated a tender for development of small-scale Clarias fingerling production clusters in western Kenya covering two districts • Moi University and FD were awarded the project • The one year project began on 1 st December 2006

Emerging Markets for Catfish • The purpose of this intervention (project) is to work with existing small- scale farmers on catfish fingerling and Nile tilapia production in Western Kenya, and transform them into high-yield production clusters that operate as profitable business ventures.

Target groups • Over the 12 -month period, it is expected that 40 fish farmers will be developed and organized into 4 production clusters. It is • projected that 19. 2 million baitfish will be produced in the first year from this intervention, realizing an annual turnover of Kshs 38. 4 m ( ~ US $600 K)

Project Activities began with visits to farmers to assess what was on the ground

Progress made • Base line data collected • Identification of clusters and cluster sites done • Community mobilization done • Market survey, strategy, and formalizing linkages between producers and bait fish traders on going • Group dynamics on going - leading to training on catfish production

We organized farmers into clusters, did sensitization then group dynamics then will training them in catfish Bait production

Benefits to fish farmers • Through technical assistance in propagation, production, and general pond husbandry, small scale fish farmers will learn that improved management can lead to increased production. • Through assistance in enterprise budgeting and cash-flow analysis, they will learn how to critically examine production methods and business decisions that impact their costing of inputs through output.

USAID Mission visited to check on progressing David Knopp - Chief of Party –and Phares Ratego

Next course of action • We plan to hold two training sessions in March 2007 • Commence production • Monitor, evaluate production and value chain • Develop market chains and linkages • Challenge - Exit strategy – sustainability of the emerging market

Expected impact • Concept of working as a group • Key is commercialize fish farming in the country • Focus on markets and production targets • Value chain addition will take this project to the next level • Case studies will target on beneficiaries

Indicators • Number of house hold benefited • Number of individual farmers trained (by Gender) • New technology tied to production, social and management • Volume and value of purchases from small scale holders

THANK YOU ALL !