The national government is set to revamp the fisheries infrastructure within the lake region counties at a cost of Ksh1.45 billion secured from the International Fund and Agriculture Development (IFAD).
The funding channeled through the Aquaculture Business Development Programme (ABDP), will see 10 ultra-modern fish landing sites constructed in Busia, Kisumu, Siaya, Migori, and Homa Bay counties as the government moves to revive the fisheries sector.
Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary (CS) Salim Mvurya said that the State Department for Blue Economy and Fisheries has already signed the agreement with IFAD, adding that a technical team was on the ground to assess the sites ahead of the official launch.
“The team will work very closely with the county governments to ensure that all the requirements are met as we roll it out,” Mvurya said.
The sites, among them Gumbe (Busia), Wichlum (Siaya), Asembo (Siaya), Ogal (Kisumu), Asat (Kisumu), Nyandhiwa (Homa Bay), Nyakula (Homa Bay), Mainuga (Homa Bay), Got Kochola (Migori) and Sori (Migori), he said, come with ultra-modern facilities to support fisher folk and other players along the fish value chain.
The CS said that the sites will act as aggregation centers, to ensure that the fisher folk have enough cold storage facilities to keep their catch as they scout for markets.
“We have taken a shift from the traditional way of fishing where farmers catch fish and sell immediately to earn a living. We are looking at fisheries as an investment. That is why we want our fishermen and farmers to delay selling their catch so that they have enough time to get the right price,” he said.
The infrastructure being developed in the four counties, he added targets to develop the fish value chain with the by-products from the fish being stored at the landing sites used to feed light and small industries to spur economic growth at the grassroots.
The project, he said was included in the ABDP during the mid-term review, lauding IFAD for partnering with the government to revive the fisheries and blue economy sector.
By Fredrick Odiero
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