Aquaculture product development and marketing innovations for Sustainable Small-Scale Aquaculture in Kenya
Aquaculture production in Kenya stands at 48,770 MT, which is about 25% of the total fish production with aquaculture having experienced unprecedented growths of over 300% in the last three years.
AquaFish support in Kenya has big impact in the aquaculture growth in the country and the Kenya Government recognizes aquaculture as one of the key drivers of food security, employment creation and economic growth, and a major instrument for bringing gender parity in the economic sector. Despite the fast aquaculture global growth, aquaculture development in Kenya still faces a lot of challenges; these include weak aquaculture promotion programs and weak marketing systems.
A pilot project in three regions: Western, Rift Valley, and Central in Kenya was started in September 2011 through AquaFish CRSP to enhance profitability of small scale aquaculture operations in the rural areas through adoption of selected aquaculture best management practices (BMPs). The broad objectives of the project are: (1) scaling up innovations from previous ACRSP and AquaFish project successes and (2) accelerating BMP adoption rates in Kenya. The specific objectives of the project are to: (a) provide information on BMP adoption in Kenya, (b) quantify adoption of BMPs, (c) quantify production and financial efficiencies for BMPs adopters versus non-adopters and (d) assess economic benefits of adopting BMPs. Adoptions of the BMPs by some farmers have been very good and they have come up with marketing innovations for aquaculture products.
Farmers have formed groups/clusters and operate under one umbrella organ called the Aquacultural Association of Kenya (AAK). Several such groups of farmers are in operation and include Shama Fish Farmers Group in Central Kenya and Lurambi Farmers Cluster in Western Kenya.
Farmers who have adopted the BMPs formed production clusters that have developed synchronized production plans and established a strong marketing strategy. The innovation involves aquaculture product development, processing and value addition, market development and market outlets for final aquaculture products. The market outlets are strategically located and are operated by vendors who are directly linked to the farmers and to fish buyers and consumers. The farmers have seen their earnings from aquaculture increased by 150% and consumers of aquaculture products rise by 200%.