Awendo: The production of fish farming in the country is set to reach unprecedented levels with the introduction of modern techniques such as cage farming, liner ponds, and reservoir farming. However, the industry faces significant challenges, particularly the high costs associated with acquiring fingerlings and feeds.
According to Kenya News Agency, the struggle to acquire affordable fingerlings has been a significant hurdle for many fish farmers across the nation. Mr. Denis Odhiambo, an aqua-culturist and technician at Ranenville Aqua-farm in Sakwa, Awendo Sub County, highlights how this challenge has prompted the farm to innovate and adapt its strategies in fish farming. Odhiambo explains that financial constraints made the continuous purchase of fingerlings unsustainable for the privately owned farm, leading them to establish their hatchery to satisfy their production needs and assist other farmers in the county.
Ranenville Aqua-farm has successfully met the requirements to begin a hatchery, receiving c
ertification in 2023 from the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMRI) and the Fisheries department at both governmental levels. The Aquaculture Business Development Programme (ABDP) played a crucial role in this certification process, enabling the farm to start producing its fingerlings.
The hatchery, with a monthly production capacity of over 100,000 fingerlings, now produces the F-8 generation strain, initially sourced from Sagana Agricultural Centre. Developed by KMRI and the Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Institute (KALRO), this strain addresses the diminishing wild fish strains in the country. The F-8 strain is known for its rapid growth, reduced harvest cycle, low feed requirements, and resistance to diseases.
Ranenville Aqua-farm has already supplied more than 300,000 fingerlings within the county and over 200,000 to neighboring counties. In 2023 alone, the farm has supported over 200,000 fish farmers with fingerlings and feeds, facilitated by the ABDP and Migori County, or through dire
ct sales.
The fingerlings production process at Ranenville Aqua-farm is intricate, requiring technical expertise and precision. Odhiambo outlines that eggs are collected from brooding ponds and undergo a hatching process lasting 10-21 days. The hatchery employs an air circulatory system and temperature control to ensure optimal conditions for growth.
Once hatched, the young fish are transferred to nursery ponds to adapt to environmental conditions. These ponds foster the growth of omnivorous Alevin and Juvenile tilapia, supported by organic fertilizers that promote plankton and algae growth, crucial for reaching marketable size within six months.
Beyond fingerling production, Ranenville Aqua-farm also rears fish for sale, with its primary market being Rio Fish Limited, along with local fishmongers, residents, and institutions within Migori and neighboring counties. The farm has developed its feed formulation to reduce costs and maximize profits, aiming to fully harness its potential in the aquaculture sect
or.
