Farmer-to-Farmer volunteers to support fish farming in Kenya
Category : Updates
From June 2017 to June 2018, Florida Atlantic University (FAU) will implement a new Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) project enhancing the development of the aquaculture sector in western and central Kenya. FAU will work in conjunction with Aquaculture without Frontiers (AwF) to send eleven volunteers on twelve-day assignments to provide practical training for Kenyan fish farmers. This F2F program is funded under Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance (VEGA)’s Special Program Support Project (SPSP) and will build upon AwF’s previous experiences in Kenya to continue expanding opportunities for fish farmers.
Despite aquaculture’s growing popularity worldwide, it is an underutilized resource and livelihood in Kenya. Around 40 percent of Kenya’s population of 46 million is considered in poverty, while ongoing drought has increased food insecurity for about four million people. Currently, agriculture provides income for about 75 percent of Kenyans and comprises 25 percent of the national GDP. Expansion of aquaculture could result in increased income, better nutrition and enhanced food security for rural communities. The Kenyan government has already demonstrated its commitment to developing aquaculture by establishing programs to construct small-farm ponds as well as aquaculture research facilities across the country. However, fish farmers continue to face obstacles like poor marketing strategies and lack of training on pond management.