Nakuru County government has been challenged to invest more money in fish farming and also encourage residents to take up fish farming for economic growth and empowerment.
Speaking during a sensitisation forum with farmers at Subukia town on Thursday, Nakuru Aquaculture Association branch chairman John Kabiru encouraged farmers to embrace fish farming.
He said fish farming is easy to venture into and has good returns. Kabiru added that through fish farming the county will be able to tackle poverty and unemployment which he said is rampant in the area.
He said the county government has adequate funds which it should use to encourage all forms of farming.
“Fish farming has great returns and can turn the economic lives of the people for the better,” he said.
The Aquaculture Association official said that there is need for the government to sensitise farmers on fish farming.
He observed that his organisation has started programmes in Gilgil, Molo, Naivasha and Subukia to educate residents about fish farming.
Kabiru also said a programme is in place where farmers willing to start fish farming will be given fingerlings free of charge.
He said already over 12,000 fingerlings have been given out to farmers in Gilgil and Naivasha.
Kabiru also urged youths in Nakuru to use the funds they are getting from the government to set up fish farming projects.