Vihiga: Women are increasingly breaking barriers and taking on leadership roles in the aquaculture, thus contributing to the sector's growth. For instance, women in Vihiga have taken up the role in various aspects of aquaculture hitherto dominated by men.
According to Kenya News Agency, women are involved in numerous aspects of aquaculture including pond construction and installing nets around their ponds, traditionally a male-dominated sector. Technical officers from the Directorate of Fisheries hosted a comprehensive demonstration on the installation of nets around the fish pond in Gisambai ward, Hamisi Sub County. This initiative was provided under the Norwegian Agency for Development Corporation (NORAD)-Advancing Resilient Nutrition Sensitive Aquaculture (ARNSA) grant, with women at the forefront of this exercise.
The demonstration involved strategically placing strong poles around the pond, ensuring room for accessibility during feeding and fishing. This was followed by carefully installing predator nets fitted around the sides of the pond, while bird nets extended over the top and along the edges, creating protective barriers.
Area Member of County Assembly (MCA) Erick Odei, who participated in the exercise, thanked all the 33 beneficiaries from the ward for their efforts and encouraged them to view fish farming as a business opportunity. He further emphasized the importance of supporting all farmers to ensure the project's sustainability.
Fisheries' Technician Anyonnyi Octavian Jonathan, who guided the farmers through the process, stated that the exercise was crucial as it enabled farmers to work independently in the coming seasons. He noted that women's participation signifies a shift in the trend, as they actively engage in fish farming in the county.
The exercise was conducted in all 20 working areas (wards) in Vihiga County, allowing farmers to implement similar practices on their own farms.