Kisumu County is set to revive fish ponds that were constructed under the economic stimulus programme four years ago.
The county, with four others; Siaya, Kakamega, Bungoma, and Busia have partnered with the German and Israel Corporation to boost economic income and reduce dependence on Lake Victoria.
Speaking in Kisumu on Monday, Israel deputy ambassador to Kenya, Nadar Peldam, and German Corporation Programme director Andrea Bahm said Sh133 million has been donated to the counties for training fish farmers with aquaculture skills, managing of ponds and stocking of fish feeds and hatcheries.
“There is a deep tilapia fish decline in Lake Victoria in the recent years due to overdependence on fishing in the lake and this is affecting the economic value of the counties bordering the lake,” said Bahm.
Ramogi Institute currently trains fishmongers on how to establish and utilise ponds. Kisumu Deputy Governor, Ruth Odinga, said more than 2000 fish ponds donated by the government under the ESP in 2010 are lying idle in most of the constituencies in the county.
She noted that lack of knowledge and shortage of fingerlings has affected the utilisation of aquaculture units set up for the farmers.
“We want to ensure these ponds are put into use through training fish mongers in the institutions that have been tasked with trainings, such as RIAT and Sagana,” said Odinga.