Migori County fishing community has received a shillings six million grant from the European Union (EU) to fund and expand the fishing activities on Lake Victoria.
Speaking during the official launch of the grant at Sori Beach in Nyatike West Sub County, Migori County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture Lucas Mosenda said that the fish farming project will aim to enhance and improve the livelihood of the community by promoting economic growth in the region as well as integrating farmers in the commodity market.
One of the four cages at Sori beach Lake Victoria set up by the Migori County government. The EU grant will also help to establish six additional fish cages on Lake Victoria-Nyatike Sub County. Photo by Belinda Oyanda.
The grant, which will be implemented by the Blue Cross Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), will also aim to promote aquaculture to enhance the development of the fishing community at Sori-Nyatike and boost fish production in the county.
The cash will also help to impr
ove and expand fish caging, training, boat acquisition, and other fishing equipment, as well as enhance capacity building for the Beach Management Units (BMU).
Mosenda said that the grant will revolutionise the local economy by introducing modern aquaculture techniques like cage farming to boost traditional fishing methods.
He added that the project had come at the right time and was in line with the county manifesto blueprint on improving the fishing enterprise in the county.
The official also affirmed that the grant will help the fishing community to focus on sustainable practices through the blue economy, with the purpose of not only providing a consistent source of high-quality fish but also supporting the local Beach Management Units with fish cages, feeds, and fingerlings.
The county has so far assisted six groups in Got Kacholla and Kachieng Wards in the expansive Nyatike Sub County with locally fabricated fishing gear worth Sh1.2 million.
Mosenda explained that already the county, through the Dep
artment of Agriculture, was supporting fish farmers with fish feeds, fingerlings, extension services, and rescue services to make the fishing enterprise lucrative.
He acknowledged that so far, the county management has provided four cages to four BMUs within Lake Victoria, while the EU grant will establish six additional fish cages.
Blue Cross NGO Director Erick Omondi acknowledged that the funded project will be implemented for 24 months to realise the intended purpose.
He affirmed that the NGO will be working closely with the county government, stakeholders, BMU officials, and the local authorities to ensure the project becomes a success as well as sustainable.
‘We want to incorporate this project as a community-centred project in order to build sustainability measures and equip the local farmers to own it after the 24 months of implementation,’ affirmed Omondi.
Eunice Atieno, one of the Tii Gi Wiyi Women Group and a beneficiary of the project, applauded the efforts the EU has made to boost the fishing
capacity of the local fishing community.
She said that the project will empower them with the tools and knowledge to thrive in aquaculture and create a lasting positive change for the Sori fishing community.
Atieno, however, urged the county government to continue assisting fish farmers with affordable fish feeds and fingerlings to help lower the cost of production and boost the economic standards of the community.
She also called upon other external partners to emulate the EU in trying to improve the lives of the residents at the county level.
Source: Kenya News Agency