Kisumu: The Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) has unveiled a state-of-the-art fish hatchery with the capacity to produce 45 million metric tonnes of fingerlings annually, a significant milestone aimed at addressing the country's fish production gap. The facility, located at the Kibos Integrated Technology Transfer Centre (ITTC) in Kisumu County, is equipped with the advanced Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS), designed to ensure year-round production of high-quality fingerlings.
According to Kenya News Agency, LBDA Managing Director Wycliffe Ochiaga, during an inspection tour of the facility, stated that the hatchery will produce 4 million fingerlings every month. These will be sold to farmers at a subsidized price of Sh. 5, down from the market price of Ksh. 15. This initiative is aimed at cushioning farmers from the high costs of fingerlings and feeds, sparking sector growth, and helping bridge the production gap.
Ochiaga highlighted that the availability of affordable, high-quality fingerlings is expected to be transformative for fish farmers across the country. The facility is anticipated to significantly boost fish production, enhance food security, and create employment opportunities within the aquaculture sector. He noted that while Kenya's annual fish consumption stands at 600,000 tonnes, the natural catch is shrinking, leaving a shortfall of about 180,000 metric tonnes.
The new hatchery is set to address this shortfall by making affordable fingerlings more accessible to smallholder farmers and commercial fish enterprises. To enhance technology transfer and capacity building, LBDA has partnered with Aquatec, a leading aquaculture technology firm, to train farmers on modern fish farming techniques. This partnership will provide farmers with access to best practices in feed production, fish rearing, water management, and sustainable aquaculture.
LBDA's goal is not just to provide fingerlings but to empower farmers with the knowledge and skills to improve fish yields and incomes. Additionally, LBDA has developed an online marketing platform to support farmers in selling their fish and fish products. The agency is also seeking strategic partnerships to roll out value addition processes, enabling farmers to reap more benefits.
Furthermore, LBDA is constructing a cold chain facility to assist farmers in storing fish for improved market access. The agency has partnered with industry players to add value to fish and curb post-harvest losses.