January 13, 2010

Kenya to roll out mega fish farming project

Kenya plans to launch a fish farming project at the coast at a cost of KES4 billion (US$53 million).

The project will be carried out in constituencies on Kenya's coastline.

Kenya's annual fish production is valued at about KES8 billion (US$106 million), and the earnings could increase if under-exploited areas such as aquaculture and the exclusive economic zones are tapped, according to Fisheries Development Minister Dr. Paul Otuoma.

The ministry had received KES1.12 billion (US$14.8 million) to support fish farming in Kenya.

Some 140 constituencies have been allocated KES8 million (US$106,100) each to support construction of 200 ponds per constituency to increase fish production in the country, Otuoma said.

The ministry has carried out aquaculture survey and preliminary results show there is enormous potential for fish farming in Kenya, with over 1.14 million hectares of land suitable for fish farming.

Otuoma said if the potential is fully exploited, production could be increased to 11 million tonnes per annum earning KES750 billion (US$9.94 billion).

Kenya's current aquaculture production is only 4,220 tonnes with a total area of only 722 hectares.

Meanwhile, the government has set aside KES10 million (US$132,362) for the construction of more than 800 fish ponds in the four constituencies of Naivasha, Molo, Kuresoi and Subukia.