Smart farms

: 04 December 2019; Hits: 11244

New technology helps fish breeder deliver male fingerlings to farmers in 28 days

Collins Adika, a fish breeder from Siaya County is cashing in a new technology that enables him deliver fingerlings of which about 98 per cent are males to cage fish farmers who raise then to table size for market.

The technology dubbed ‘Y-Y technology’ is introduced into a hatchery using a specific hormone and chemical mixed with starter feeds and fed to the fingerlings two days after they are hatched- when they still have no knowledge of any other feed and are aggressive, feeding very fast on whatever feed available.

They are then supposed to be fed with the mixture for 14 days consecutively upon which their gender is are supposed to be examined.

“Even for breeders like me, it is very difficult to tell the gender of fingerlings within 10 days after they are hatched but upon feeding them with this special feed for over two weeks I am able to distinguish my stock very well,” said Adika adding that the feed is able to convert almost all-female fingerlings to males.

It does not stop there, the young ones are again fed on the special diet for another 14 days when they are about 1.5 cm long. At this point where it marks the 28 days period, the fingerlings which are over 90 per cent males are ready to be sold to farmers.

However, in case they are not sold out, they are introduced to a pure starter feed mostly known to farmers as Raanan which they feed on awaiting market.

pond fish farmers

Adika learned about this technology way back when he was working with Jambo Fish Western (K) Ltd which operated in Mumias, Kakamega County. Before collapsing in 2012, the company produced fingerlings and supplied to farmers in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania.

“I chanced to get a sponsored training in the Netherlands by the firm and when it collapsed I moved to Uganda in 2014 and teamed with the ministry for fisheries to start Aqua Fish Farm and hatchery in Kampala,” said Adika.

In May this year when the partnership broke up, Adek and his brother Charles Otieno whom they had moved together to the neighbouring country came back and teamed up again with Dauglas Odero, an established fish farmer who owned a chain of fish ponds in Siaya County under Pacho Fish Farms.

The two decided to negotiate with the farmer who had neglected some three big ponds measuring 80x40m in the hands of some farmhands who had little knowhow in fish farming.

Upon reaching on an agreement, the brothers started renovating the ponds and subdividing the ponds using cages. This resulted in six ponds or cages in which they have now set up hatcheries that currently has 70,000 fingerlings production capacity.

“We are very proud because in less than five months we have built such a fast-growing hatchery and we are now looking for fish farmers in need of seeds to contact us and be sure of high quality all males fingerlings,” said Adika.

Operating as Pacho Fish Farms situated at Rabango Village in Siaya, the farmers have also set up a feed manufacturing unit where they produce feeds for farmers. In addition, they are offering consultancy in fish farming at a fee besides giving free tips about the venture to their common customers.

Adika can be reached on +254 724 739 933 while Otieno on +254 706 616 850

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: 02 December 2019; Hits: 9787

Kilifi farmer targets parties with beauty fish to grow income

beauty fish decor

Paul Murage Wachiuri, a fish breeder at Mtwapa in Kilifi County has ventured into beauty fish farming, a practice that is unpopular among farmers in Kenya targeting party events to grow his income.

The idea dawned on Morage four years ago when his sister had a wedding and had asked him for some beauty fishes as part of the event decoration. On realizing that guests loved the idea, he decided to invest in the rare venture to tap into the niche market.

“Since then I have directed my effort towards the production of the beauty fish and marketing via social media, friends and relatives to reach event owners and organisers who hire the fish at a fee depending on the event duration, the number of the fish needed, and the event location,” said Murage.

In order to provide a full package, he has also purchased transparent 1.5 litres capacity glass bowls in which the fish which are of different colours are placed for display.

He says that at the beginning people were skeptical about buying the idea but after witnessing how the fish colours the events’ dining tables among other places, orders have increased quite significantly over the years.

“I offer the services countrywide with most of my clients in Nairobi. I am sometimes forced to buy more bowls depending on clients’ preferences especially those holding holiday parties who are the majority,” said Murage.

beauty fish in bowls

The aquarium farmer now targets holidays such as those of December and New Year to get more customers and grow the venture which is now six years old. His prices are flexible and open for negotiation depending on the type of event or party and the number of the fish a client orders.

Kenyan ornamental fish industry is the fastest-growing ornamental industry in Africa. It includes locally wild-caught marine species and captive-bred freshwater species, according to 2016 research by Mary A. Opiyo and other experts on the Overview of Ornamental Fish Production in Kenya for Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI).

Presently, the industry contributes to the economy of the country by generating income through export earning, creating employment and enhancing the livelihood of the fisher community and fish farmers. The marine ornamental fish industry in Kenya has an annual collection of approximately 300,000 pieces of fish of different species.

In addition, the research indicated that the demand of ornamental or beauty fish presents a considerable challenge to conservation and management of the aquarium industry in Kenya as a result of unsustainable fishing practices that targets juvenile fish making them vulnerable to depletion.

beauty fish

Murage has since started his farm called Pwani Fish Farm and Hatchery which sits within half an acre piece of land in Mtwapa where he also raises fingerlings that he sells to other farmers at Sh10 per seed.

The hatchery itself which has also been existence for six years has a capacity of 100,000 fingerlings though he produces depending on orders.

Murage can be reached on +254 737864911

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: 27 November 2019; Hits: 15178

Kakamega youth group cashing in rare Spirulina farming

A group of 35 youth in Kakamega County who are also school leavers have ventured into the production of Spirulina, a microalgae which is not cultivated by many farmers in the country currently earning them millions of shillings.

The group first got the idea of the lucrative venture from a professor and a nutritionist from of Masinde Muliro University which they were students around 2011. The professor who was pleased with the idea that the students shared then decided to help with research on production and marketing.

After which the farming of the nutrient-rich blue-green algae began within the university and the group would later acquire a small office at Mwalimu Centre Building in Kakamega town to conduct their activities.

Through funds from the government and other international bodies the group set up seven ponds at the university of which two are used for research while five are for growing spirulina.

The algae is harvested in seven to 21 days using fine linen and a sieve before it is placed in a solar drier to remove moisture.

Spirulina

Spirulina at the initial stage of production. Photo, Zablon Oyugi

From their tiny office, the group grinds the dried spirulina pellets into fine powder. The powder is then packaged into 500mg capsules and sold for Sh10 each. It is also mixed with honey to make a honey tonic used to treat coughs and colds. The group is targeting the market with a food supplement for the malnourished -- including children and the elderly.

Further research work is in progress on the use of residue extracted from the algae to manufacture hair shampoos and other beauty and products.

"We have big plans to set up a cooperative society and train farmers to grow mushrooms and spirulina for products we have started making and selling," said Clare Muhindi, a group member.

The group is fundraising to take spirulina farming skills to farmers in the region with the hope that they will adopt it as an income generating venture. Their strategy according to their chairman is to invest in value addition to the spirulina to penetrate the market and inspire future expansion operations.

This interesting kind of farming has catapulted the group into national stardom with students and scientists from across the country travelling to learn more on spirulina farming.

Kari Harris, a student at the School of International Training in Nairobi, said she had travelled all the way from Mombasa to see how the group was going about the rare farming.

"I have travelled here to be able to learn how the food supplement can be used to deal with malnutrition in poor communities and I must say that I'm impressed by efforts shown by the group," said Harris.

The group has also been involved in a campaign to sensitise the public and medical teams to adopt use of the supplements which boost the immunity of HIV/Aids. Spirulina has been widely used as a dietary supplement in many parts of the world since 1970.

RELATED CONTENT: Rare fruit fetches KSh2,300 per Kg in Kenya

Spirulina structure

An enclosed structure in which spirulina is grown. Photo, Zablon Oyugi.

Spirulina, has been harvested by indigenous peoples in Mexico and parts of Africa for hundreds of years. In the past two decades, commercial production has begun in many countries including Mexico, Thailand, Chile, India, Myanmar, Taiwan and the United States. Current worldwide production is estimated at about 3,000 tonnes. However, in Africa the potential of this spiral-shaped algae to boost health, immunity and incomes has so far been realised only in Chad, where the annual spirulina harvest of about 40 tonnes is worth US$100,000.

Spirulina is often referred to as a superfood because it is 60-70 per cent protein and it also provides essential fatty acids, phytochemicals such as beta-carotene (which the body converts into vitamin A) and micronutrients, including vitamin B12 (which is rare in plants) and iron.

In a 2002 review of almost 100 published studies of spirulina, most conducted in the last ten years, Dr. Amha Belay stated in the Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association that the "evidence for its potential therapeutic application is overwhelming in the areas of immunomodulation, anti-cancer, anti-viral and cholesterol-reduction effects."

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