Lack of funds threatens to derail fish farming projects

Lack of funding for fish farming is threatening to thwart plans of increasing production and easing pressure from major water bodies like Lake Victoria and Indian Ocean.

Over-fishing in many bodies has led to a drop in stock especially of fishes like tuna which fetches good returns in oversees markets.

The Ministry of Fisheries intends to construct 200 ponds and hand them over to farmers in 140 constituencies under the economic stimulus programme.

“Fish farming has been identified as one area that will reduce not only fishing pressure on our oceans, lakes and rivers, but will also enhance food security, unemployment and wealth creation and healthy living for our people,” said Fisheries minister, Paul Otuoma.

During the 2009/2010 financial year, the government allocated Sh1.12 billion to support fish farming activities.

About Sh600 million had been earmarked for the second phase which was supposed to have started by end of January, but Treasury has not disbursed the money.

Strides made

About 100 ponds are planned to be built in the second phase of the project.

In the first phase, farmers dug ponds awaiting for stocking of fingerlings.

“We are going on well with first phase in which we have done most of the work and we are now embarking on stocking those fish ponds that are complete,” said Dr Otuoma.

He said once funds are paid which is likely to be from the supplementary budget in April, they will start the second phase immediately.

The first phase had been hit by some hitches, which Dr Otuoma says were beyond the ministry’s control.

“We had some problems, in which some fish ponds were not ready on time, as well as delay in maturity of fingerlings. We want fish farmers to get mature seedlings.”

The ministry has also put in place a national oceans and fisheries policy to give the sector legal framework.

The policy puts emphasis on the development of fish farming as one of its core activities.