A major relief for local fish farmers is on the horizon, as the Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) announced the upcoming launch of its subsidized fingerling distribution program. This follows the near-completion of the modern fingerling hatchery at Kibos in Kisumu East Sub County, which is set to revolutionize fish farming in the region.
Speaking to the media at the Kibos Integrated Technology Transfer Centre (ITTC) on Wednesday, LBDA Managing Director Wycliff Ochiaga confirmed that the installation of the fingerling multiplication machine, which has been under construction for the past three months, is in its final stages. The facility is expected to begin producing fingerlings soon.
Ochiaga revealed that the machine will have the capacity to produce an impressive 4 million fingerlings per month, which will be sold to farmers at a subsidized rate of Sh. 5 each—far below the market rate of Sh. 15 per fingerling.
“This initiative will help address the severe shortage of fingerlings currently affecting local fish farmers and will enable them to access quality Nile Tilapia fingerlings at affordable prices,” Ochiaga explained. “This subsidy is designed to boost farmer incomes, improve livelihoods, and create employment opportunities within the Lake Region.”
The facility aims to meet the growing demand for fish in Kenya, where local annual consumption reaches 600,000 metric tonnes, with a shortfall of 180,000 metric tonnes. Ochiaga emphasized that the Kibos Centre has the potential to produce up to 45 million metric tonnes of fingerlings annually, helping to bridge this gap and contribute significantly to Kenya’s aquaculture sector.
Additionally, a new fingerling counting machine has been introduced to ensure accurate and transparent transactions between the facility and farmers. LBDA is also working on a digital platform to help farmers market their fish more efficiently.
Looking ahead, Ochiaga revealed plans to install a plant with a cooling system to prevent post-harvest losses for farmers, further boosting productivity and sustainability in the local aquaculture industry.
