By Anderson Ojwang
Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) has taken a bold step to revolutionize fish farming in the Lake Victoria region through the construction of a modern hatchery plant in Kisumu.
The Managing Director Mr. Wycliff Ochiaga said the modern hatchery plant at Kibos ITTC has an annual production of 12 million fingerlings that will go a long way in boosting fish farming in the lake region.
“The completion of the modern hatchery plant at Kibos ITTC, with a production capacity of 12 million fingerlings annually effective March 2025, will revolutionize fish farming in our region,” he said.
In his New Year speech, Ochiaga said LBDA’s strategic partnerships with educational institutions have further enhanced innovation and knowledge dissemination in aquaculture.
Fingerling farming is a key part of fish cage farming in Lake Victoria, where fish farmers demand more fingerlings to stock their cages:
The demand for fingerlings has increased as cage fish farming has become more popular in the region.
The Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) estimates that there are over 6,000 fish cages on the Kenyan side of Lake Victoria, and each cage can produce one ton of fish per year.
“The year 2024 has been a testament to our collective resilience, innovation, and unwavering commitment to the transformative agenda of the Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA),” he said.
In the spirit of our national ethos, we have made significant strides in various sectors. Similarly, the MD said LBDA was supporting rice farmers through the state-of-the-art rice mill commissioned in August 2024, which has increased milling capacity by 30%, improving livelihoods and ensuring food security.
The new mill has a capacity of 4 tons per hour, fully pneumatic compared to the old mill which was fully mechanical, with an installation capacity of 3.5 tons per hour that had reduced to an average of 0.87 tons per hour at the time of replacement.
The first machine at the mill was installed in the year 1196 with an installation capacity of 3.5 tons per hour which translates to 24,000 metric tons per month.
The milling capacity had significantly reduced over the year to an average of 0.87 tons per hour due to continuous wear and tear, depreciation, lack of spares and outdated technology which rendered the machine very inefficient.
Ochiaga said the Authority has actively participated in national efforts to increase tree cover by planting over 200,000 trees and implementing 15 water projects in schools and communities to ensure access to clean water and promote environmental stewardship.
“We have strengthened collaborations with various stakeholders and this has enhanced our capacity to deliver on our mandate. We have showcased our achievements through various platforms, reaching a huge audience, highlighting the impact of our work in sectors such as Rice farming, Fish farming and beekeeping,” he said.
Ochiaga said LBDA has also faced some teething challenges that has negated full achievement of their agenda.
He said despite modernizing the processing plant, the Ndhiwa beekeeping project has experienced slower-than-expected uptake.
“ I encourage the need for increased community engagement and support to fully realize the potential of this initiative, We will intensify community outreach and support to boost participation in the Ndhiwa beekeeping initiative, ensuring that the modernized processing plant operates at full capacity, ” he said.
He said erratic weather patterns have impacted negatively on the agricultural production and water availability, necessitating adaptive strategies to ensure sustainability.
“We are committed to enhancing the skills and well-being of our staff through targeted training programs and welfare initiatives, recognizing that our people are our greatest asset. Leveraging technology to improve efficiency, monitor projects, and engage stakeholders effectively will be a cornerstone of our strategy,” he said.
