Vihiga's fish farming drive targets exports with 450,000 fingerlings boost

Fish farmers in Vihiga County have started benefiting from a Sh69 million aquaculture initiative aimed at revolutionising local fish production, bridging the national fish deficit, and positioning the region as a major player in Kenya’s fish export market.

The program, supported by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) under the Advancing Resilient Nutrition-Sensitive Aquaculture (ARNSA) grant, is poised to address Kenya’s national fish deficit of 400,000 metric tonnes.

So far, a total of 450 farmers across the country have received over 450,000 fingerlings, alongside bird nets, predator nets, 3600 90-kilogram bags of fish feeds, and technical support for constructing ponds.

Each farmer is expected to rear 1,000 fingerlings, marking the start of a transformation that seeks to position Vihiga as a leading player in aquaculture and fish exports.

The farmers received varieties of fingerlings, including monosex Tilapia and catfish.

The county has also procured a vehicle and three motorcycles that will be used to facilitate officers to reach the farmers and provide extension services.

David Kisienya, a farmer from Wodanga, expressed hope that the initiative would revitalise the fish industry and boost the local economy.

“As farmers, we hope the project brings us a market as we are ready for value addition lessons to enable us to grow and export our fish,” Kisienya said.

Vihiga County largely relies on fish from neighbouring Kisumu and Busia counties captured in Lake Victoria.

Speaking during the issuance of the fingerlings, Governor Wilber Ottichilo hailed the initiative as a transformative step in harnessing the potential of aquaculture as a sustainable economic driver.

“In addition to creating jobs and boosting local incomes, the project is anticipated to position Vihiga County as a key player in the global fish export market,” said Governor Ottichilo.

He further urged farmers to embrace strategic marketing, form savings cooperatives, and explore value addition to enhance profitability.

The Vihiga County Government, in partnership with NORAD, mapped out 450 farmers to serve as model beneficiaries.

These smallholder farmers will act as the foundation for broader aquaculture expansion and knowledge dissemination throughout the region.

The project has also identified two schools—Moi Girls Vokoli and Nyang'ori Boys—to pilot the initiative, underscoring the project’s aim of involving youth in sustainable farming.

To boost locally hatched fingerlings, the county is set to utilise the Mwitoko Fish Hatchery and Training Centre in Luanda Sub-County as a cornerstone in the county’s aquaculture strategy.

“We have a model farm at Mwitoko, which is a centre for training and a hatchery of fingerlings. And we hope to distribute more fingerlings to farmers through the hatchery,” Governor Ottichilo said.

The Mwitoko facility currently operates 40 fully stocked ponds with tilapia and catfish and can supply over 1,000,000 fingerlings annually.

Plans are underway to expand training opportunities at the centre to benefit the 450 farmers who are under the project.

Deputy National Program Coordinator and Regional Coordinator of the Aquaculture Business Development Program (ABDP), Dr. Isaac Wamalwa, emphasised the importance of strengthening local fish farming to bridge the national deficit.

Wamalwa further stated that the current project paves the way for a more comprehensive phase of the Aquaculture Business Development Program, which will broaden its reach and impact on local farmers.

The NORAD/ARNSA program is not confined to Vihiga alone—it is being rolled out in 16 other counties, making it part of a nationwide strategy to strengthen aquaculture as a tool for economic development, food security, and export growth.

“The project is critical in addressing food security and increasing the country's capability to export quality fish to other nations,” he noted.

Vihiga County Fisheries Director Wilson Munala called for innovative approaches to reduce production costs, particularly the high cost of fish feeds.

“We should work on how to improve production by reducing the cost of fish feeds,” said Munala. He added that the project also focuses on enabling farmers to profit through enhanced policy development and access to knowledge.