FAO launches six projects in the Lake Region Economic Bloc
Kisumu - Kenya: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations today launched six projects to be implemented within the Lake Region Economic Block (LREB) worth Ksh 650m.
These programs focus mainly on enhancing job creation for youth and women, improving food and nutrition security, improving policy frameworks and creating an enabling business environment.
Speaking at the launch of the projects, which took place after a two day technical deliberation jointly held by FAO and LREB on how to unlock the aquaculture investment potential in the Lake Regional Economic Bloc, the FAO Representative to Kenya Mrs. Carla Mucavi reiterated on FAO’s commitment to support the National and County government, to transform lives of the people living within the Lake Regions.
‘Taking cognizance of the County Integrated Development Plans (CIPDS) which are anchored on the Kenya’s Vison 2030 and the Big 4 Agenda, FAO aims to contribute to the implementation thereof and achievement of the Lake Regions Economic Blue Print broad agenda.’
These discussions were held among Fisheries and Blue Economy, Cooperatives and Economic Planning Directors among other technocrats from Kisumu, Siaya, Migori, Homabay, Busia, Kakamega, and Vihiga counties.
‘The blue economy has a great potential to contribute to a higher and faster GDP growth in Kenya. Innovation and growth in the marine and maritime sector could deliver food, energy, transport, among other products and services and serve as a foundation for sustainable development in Kenya,’ said Hon. Peter Munya, the Cabinet Secretary for Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries & Cooporatives who graced the occasion.
Aquaculture investment in the Lake Regional Bloc
The Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB) was born in 2014 out of the understanding that strategic connections between counties with shared interests seated in a desire for mutual benefit can be a plausible and an effective means of creating remarkable development impact across the member counties.
Statistics from the Kenya Fishery Service (KFS) indicate that the total fishery and aquaculture production in Kenya in 2019 amounted to 146,543 tonnes. Inland capture fisheries produced 102,331 metric tons which contributed 69.8 % of Kenya’s total fish production. Of these, aquaculture production amounted to 18,542 metric tonnes contributing 12.6 % of the total production.
However, there is an annual fish deficit of 350,000 tonnes annually if we were to consume an average of 10 Kgs/person/year which is the continental average. Lake Victoria is the largest fresh water body and contributes 95% of inland fish production.
The Aquaculture Investment Concept focuses on the five counties sharing Lake Victoria shoreline as a common resource, with a bigger vision to eventually scale up the interventions to the whole bloc. The interventions proposed are mainly around aquaculture interventions on the lake and cage fish farming in Kisumu, Busia, Migori, Homabay and Siaya counties
‘The mindset that fish can only be found in Lake Victoria is true. However, the sector is faced with a myriad of challenges to meet the huge demand for quality fish. This strategic intervention is to unlock this potential for prosperity,’ said the CEO of Lake Regional Economic Bloc (LREB) who was at the launch.
State of Aquaculture in Kenya compared to other Africa countries
Globally, aquaculture production has increased by 30% every decade for the past 50 years. Asia is the dominant producer, with Africa only contributing two percept to the total production. South Africa dominates the African production at 56%, while Kenya produces 4% of the total production. Opportunities abound
According to an aquaculture sector development comparative study done in 2018 by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands in Kenya, Egypt, Ghana and Nigeria are the three leading countries in freshwater aquaculture production in Africa. In 2015, Egypt was leading by a production of 1,174,800 tonnes followed by Nigeria at 316,700 , Ghana 46,250 and Kenya 18,658 tonnes.
Note to editors:
About the projects launched:
- Integrated Country Approach (ICA) for boosting decent jobs for youth in the agri-food system in Kenya. This project is funded by SIDA and is being implemented between 2019-2022 in Siaya and Kakamega Counties.
- Integrated Actions for Innovative Food Systems across Rural Urban Communities project funded by the Italian Agency for Development Co-operation, and is being implemented between 2019-2022.
- Opportunities for Youth in Africa (OYA) Programme: Accelerating Job creation in the Agri-food sector. It will be implemented in Siaya, Kakamega and Kisumu Counties and funded by FAO and will run between 2020-2024.
- Agrinvest project funded by the Italian Government will be implemented in Vihiga, Kisumu, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira, Eldoret & Nakuru counties between 2020-2022.
- Overcoming the Challenges of COVID-19 and Flood Crises to Food and Nutrition Security in Western Kenya using a Food System Approach implementing Counties: Migori and Kisumu Funded by FAO and will run between 2020-2022.
- Kenya Covid-19 Medium Term Programme Framework funded by the United nations for Kisumu and Turkana, between 2020-2021.
About FAO
The 2020 State of Food and Agriculture
About LREB
The Lake Region Economic Bloc presents the socioeconomic aspirations of 14 counties in the Lake Basin Region and seeks to boldly secure and shape the region’s destiny.
For more information
Contact
For more information
Contact
Lydia Limbe
Communication Specialist,
FAO Kenya.
Email: [email protected]
@FAOKenya