IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT MISSION FOR THE NORAD–ARNSA PROJECT

A team from the Aquaculture Business Development Programme (ABDP), conducted a series of site visits to review the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) – Advancing Resilient Nutrition Sensitive Aquaculture (ARNSA) project’s implementation. The mission sought to assess progress made, identify challenges encountered, and discuss the way forward as the project approaches its conclusion at the end of the year.

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‎The team visited the Busali Fish Farmers Group, Moi Girls Vokoli integrated farming site, the aquaponics construction at Kaimosi Friends Vocational Training Centre, and the Mwitoko Aquaculture Centre.

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‎A representative of the Busali group, Sammy Aradi, expressed gratitude on behalf of the fish farmers benefiting from the project. He noted that all the 450 mapped farmers received bird and predator nets, fingerlings, fish feeds, training, and capacity-building support to enhance sustainability beyond the project period. He added that despite delays in fish feed distribution, farmers took the initiative to keep their fish supplied, with some already harvesting, while others are expected to harvest in December.

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‎Aquaculture Specialist Ruth Lewo Mwarabu from ABDP said the team is impressed by the farmers’ adoption of innovative technologies, including the use of azola and blood meal as alternative fish feeds. She explained that the project provided 50% support, with beneficiaries contributing the remaining share.

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‎For his part, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Julius Maruja said that farmers will have an opportunity to purchase fingerlings from the Mwitoko Fish Farm at KES. 5 each. He added that agricultural extension officers will continue offering the necessary support to farmers. He further noted that the project is in the process of constructing fish kiosks for aggregation, marketing, and value addition.