Fish Farmers in Githobokoni ward have been asked to embrace alternative feeding methods for their fish to address the challenge of food scarcity that has hit the area.
Speaking to fish farmers in Githobokoni on Saturday, the area fishery officer Martin Kiringu said that the fish feed the fisheries department used to provide for the farmers at subsided prices is currently not available.
"I urge you to start producing your own fish feeds from locally available materials, and sell the excess feeds to those who do not have the capacity of producing their own fish feeds," he told them in a board meeting held at Githobokoni Social Hall.
Kiringu gave them directions on how to make simple, nutritious and cheap fish feeds at cheap cost using locally available material so as to sustain their venture at this time when fish prices are soaring.
"Our locally prepared fish feeds have the same nutritional value as that of feeds produced commercially; fish grow at the same rate and have the same market sale value," he observed.
The officer said that fish farming in the region has improved because of the ready market in Thika. He encouraged farmers to fully embark on it because of its economic viability.
He further noted that fish farming as an agricultural venture, one can never go wrong if it is done professionally. Most of the fish farmers in Githobokoni rely on pond method of fishing and have been having feeding problems for the last two weeks.