By Marion Ndung’u
Production of fish in Nyeri County has increased significantly in the last one year, a new report shows.
The survey by National Trout Hatchery in Kiganjo, Nyeri, indicates production has gone up by 19 per cent in the last five years.
Revenue from trout also increased from Sh225,000 in 2005 to Sh1.2 million last year.
The officer in charge of the hatchery, Justus Njue, attributes the rise to increase in fish demand by locals as well as tourists.
“We have already closed production for this year but we have not met the demand despite surpassing our targets,” says Njue.
deep in forest
However, the report says the number of riverine trout has reduced over the years because of human activities such as over exploitation and degraded habitats.
“Currently, naturalised trout populations are found deep in the forest where there is little or no anthropogenic influence. Even in protected areas, the threat of fish poachers for riverine fish is very real,” reads the report.
The hatchery produces two tonnes of fish per year but Mr Njue says they are aiming to increase that number to five tonnes. The report shows fingerling production had surpassed the target by 7.2 per cent. The fingerlings were, however, seven per cent less than the previous year, an aspect that was blamed on high mortality.
cut expenditure
The report attributes the increase in general production to infrastructural expansion. The move to start own fish feeds production unit has also enabled the farm to cut expenditure.
To further increase production, the hatchery is in the process of remodelling ponds from rectangular to circular. The current ponds are big in size and many areas in the pond remain unutilised thus reducing productivity.
Njue notes that the hatchery is yet to reach its maximum production capacity due to water flow fluctuations in Sagana River.
