BUSIA COUNTY TO HONOR KIMANI FOR SPEARHEADING FISH CAGE FARMING
Busia Deputy Governor, H.E Arthur Odera has said the County Government will reward Bunyala Fisheries Officer, Shadrack Kimani for turning the fortunes of area residents through fish cage farming.
Addressing County Staff during an engagement meeting at Busia ATC on Thursday, Odera said they will roll out a program where staff who will excel in their duties will be rewarded by the County Government.
Ag. Director Governance and Special Programs, Dr Timothy Odende drew the attention of the Deputy Governor when he singled out the initiatives of Kimani which needed accolades.
In an interview on the sidelines of the engagement meeting, Mr Kimani said the objective of introducing fish cage farming at Mulukoba Beach on Lake Victoria in Bunyala Sub County was to rid the fish community of poverty.
” After starting fish cage farming with the support of the county government, we sat with the Beach Management where we agreed part of the proceeds should be used to pay schoolfees for families of fish farmers,” he said.
He added: ” Since the introduction of the scholarship program in 2019, about 560 students from the Lake Region have benefited with each student receiving Ksh7000 per year which is enough to clear fees for a day’sscholar.”
Kimani said there is need to embrace acquapark farming which will bring units of production to be managed together, adding that other agricultural directorates like poultry, livestock and pigetry and others should embrace the idea to enable them grow and support education.
There are 200 fish cages at Mulukoba Beach that are managed under acquapark by thd Beach Management Unit while other fish cages are privately owned. Busia was among first counties to embrace fish cage farming, this has reduced pressure on the Lake in terms of fish depletion.
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