Kwale: The coastal county of Kwale, in partnership with the Kenya Marine Fisheries Socio-Economic Development (KEMFSED) project, is harnessing aquaculture for growth and sustainability to enhance food and nutrition security.
According to Kenya News Agency, the KEMFSED project is implemented by the State Department for Blue Economy and Fisheries with support from the World Bank. The project, running from 2020 to 2025 with funding worth Sh10 billion, is being implemented in the coastal counties of Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, and Lamu to improve livelihood activities in coastal communities.
The donor-funded programme aims to expand access to livelihood support, food security services, and grants for poor and vulnerable households and businesses, contributing to the overall socio-economic development of the coastal counties. The county, in collaboration with the KEMFSED project, has been empowering fisherfolks by distributing fish fingerlings and other inputs such as fish tanks to support the aquaculture sub-sector and improve food and nutrition security and livelihoods.
The partnership programme has distributed items that include multifilament fishing nets, fiberglass fishing boats with outboard engines, cold storage facilities, flares, bond liners, GPS gadgets, life rafts, and life jacket floats to small-scale fishermen to turn fishing into a profitable venture. The devolved government has set up 60 freshwater ponds and distributed 70,000 Nile tilapia and catfish fingerlings to small-scale fish farmers in Msambweni, Matuga, Lunga Lunga, and Kinango sub-counties.
These fingerlings are being distributed to establish and expand freshwater tilapia farming in the county, helping to diversify livelihoods and reduce over-reliance on marine resources. The initiative reflects the county's broader agenda of empowering local communities, promoting food security, and diversifying sources of income.
Governor Fatuma Achani stated that the initiative seeks to boost sustainable aquaculture production and help diversify fish supply beyond traditional marine fisheries. She emphasized that fish farming is a strategic pillar of economic transformation, creating sustainable incomes and enhancing food security.
David Mukoma, a beneficiary of the fish farming project, expressed his appreciation and hope that the initiative would bring significant economic transformation by providing income and nutrition to residents. Another fish farmer, Ramadhan Gang'ombe, noted that the fish farming initiative would help improve livelihoods and create job opportunities for communities to earn a decent income.
County Executive for Agriculture and Fisheries Roman Shera highlighted that the Kwale and KEMFSED partnership focuses on increasing the availability of disease-tolerant and nutrient-rich fish species. The farmers are supported by extension services to boost aquaculture production and address food security concerns. Shera also noted the recent operationalization of the first National Marine Hatchery at the National Mariculture Resource and Training Centre (NAMARET) in Shimoni, Kwale, which marks a significant stride towards developing a thriving aquaculture sector.