Take up fish farming as alternative to diminishing land sizes, Njuki tells farmers

Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki has urged residents to embrace fish farming for commercial purposes as alternatives following diminishing land sizes.

Njuki said farmers have been facing hard times in search of fish feeds while many could rot before reaching the markets.

Speaking after donating fish feeds, freezers and cool boxes to framers, the county boss said fish farming has turned out to be a net income earner in the country, and called upon more farmers to make fish part of their staple food.

Njuki who issued the equipment at Mitheru in Maara constituency, said his government will also establish a fish centre in Chuka town with big freezers where farmers will be delivering their fish for storing and even selling.

He said his administration will disburse sunflower seeds to ensure the availability of adequate and cheap fish feed, which is currently bought from Uganda.

“My administration will allocate five acres at the proposed Sh500 million Kairini Industrial and Aggregation Park for a fish model farming and processing plant. We will promote local production by providing free sunflower seeds to farmers starting next rainy season,” Njuki said.

Fish farming has become a common economic venture in Tharaka Nithi county resulting in demand for an expanded market.

Njuki said fish production has increased from 5,000kgs in 2017 to 51,000kgs last year against a small rise in local consumer demand.

He said though he is encouraging the expansion of the local market, his target is to export fish that has already been processed for value addition.

“As a government, we are dedicated to promoting fish farming and that is why we have given farmers freezers, feeds and harvesting nets. Farmers have also been receiving fingerings and liners from my government,” the governor said.

He said some farmers have also been buying fingerings from a firm in Ruiru, Kiambu county, but currently four locals are producing them.

The county boss lauded the government for the establishment of Mutonga Marine Research Institute in Tharaka constituency which will greatly promote fish farming in the region.

Deputy Governor Nyaga Muisrael said there is a need for residents to embrace fish consumption not just for the creation of a market but also for health benefits.

He asked the Department of Agriculture to organise a fish cooking and consumption demonstration workshop for residents.

“Fish is a new food in our community and many locals do not even know how to cook it.  Some claim it is smelly while others fear being choked by the small bones,”  Muisrael said.

In Kenya, fish consumption is common in communities at the Coast and lake regions though with the health experts advocating for the consumption of white meat for health reasons, residents of Tharaka Nithi and  Mt Kenya region are slowly embracing it.