The catfish industry, if well nurtured, can provide Kenya with a source of high quality protein, a source of income and employment. In the face of declining and unreliable wild stocks that are highly threatened by overfishing and environmental degradation, improved aquaculture production would provide an alternative source of fish to meet the increased demands of the local and export fisheries markets. To develop catfish culture into a viable industry, it is necessary to improve its productivity and increase its profitability.
One of the most important constraints is the provision of quality fish seed. Although the government of Kenya has shown its willingness to fund selective breeding for catfish improvement, funding is only allocated for the first two years. The selective breeding program is limited in scope because of weak linkages among the different government institutions. Furthermore, the capacity to handle a selective breeding program requires strengthening to ensure that competent personnel handle the improved strains at the nucleus center, multiplication centers and hatcheries. It is, therefore, necessary that the initial efforts by the government should be augmented and the capacity of research institutions strengthened. There is a need
to set up and rehabilitate public hatcheries, and encourage private hatcheries with appropriate and modern technologies to ensure good quality seed all the time. Kenya is currently an active member of the East African Community (EAC), others being Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania. These countries share a lot in common including a common EAC parliament. By including an international dimension into the management and execution of the breeding program, the EAC countries could benefit as well, both in terms of expertise and in the acquisition of improved seed. It is suggested that regional centers where the selected lines could be tested be chosen in each of the EAC countries and that a team of scientists, extension officers and farmers be trained on aspects of selective breeding and catfish husbandry.
With increasing aquaculture activities, feed production is fast becoming an important commercial undertaking in its own right and it is expected that many private entrepreneurs will venture into the feed industry. It is necessary that government agencies play a significant role as a quality control and monitoring watchdog. This will protect the rights and interests of small- scale farmers by ensuring that only certified feeds are in the market. Provision of quality feeds is a sure way of ensuring that the improved strains are able to fully realize their potential. Through public-private sector partnerships, feed mills should be set up to produce en mass and test formulated feeds from research institutes.
An elaborate aquaculture policy in the country will ensure an efficient legal framework for the dissemination of the improved strain. Rules governing the aquaculture sector should recognize the need to inspire private investment and increase the rate of commercialization, while ensuring wise use of resources. Thus, incentives for aquaculture and elaborate rules and regulations on movement of strains and prevention of escapes are required. Increasing the exchange of information and facilitating linkages between research and extension services in Kenya and
throughout the East African Community (EAC), and with countries with successful catfish production in Africa and Southeast Asia would be beneficial. Kenya has an inadequate number of trained personnel for the effective promotion of aquaculture. An aquaculture training center or aquaculture center of excellence should be established at the national or regional level to strengthen this pool of human resources.
CONCLUSION
There is considerable potential for fish farming in Kenya due to the country’s natural
endowment; both climatic and geographical features are conducive to aquaculture. The slow growth of aquaculture, therefore, can be attributed but not limited to lack of a guiding policy, perception of its benefits as a subsistence activity as opposed to a viable commercial enterprise, ineffective extension strategies and technology transfer, low government funding, and inadequate investment. In the recent past, however, fish farming, especially catfish farming, has shown remarkable signs of growth and development, all attributed to the realization of its profitability and the keen interest of research institutions to develop appropriate technologies. In particular, the catfish selective breeding program should be supported to fully realize the breeding objectives of the country.
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