EU TO BOOST FISHERMEN'S EFFORT IN LAKE VICTORIA

02/20/2007
GRANTS ARCHIVES AGAJA KUYO BARUPE WECHE DONGRUOK MBAKA NONRO JEXJALUO NGECHE LUO GI GWENG' THUM TEDO LUO KITGI GI TIMBEGI SIGENDNI LUO THUOND WECHE ;	Kisumu EU TO BOOST FISHERMEN'S EFFORT IN LAKE VICTORIA By Leo Odera Omolo Disclosing this, Dr.Jim Scullion, the project manager of implementation of Fish Management Programme (IFMP), said that the grant is expected to increase income from fishing due to improved quality. "The lake is producing below its capacity because fish is highly perishable and therefore huge amounts are likely to go to waste". Dr.Scullion said adding that Kenya loses more than Kshs. 3.6 billions in earnings due to bad roads and lack of good storage and refrigeration facilities. Installation of the equipment, said the project manager would give way for the auctioning of fresh fish. Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization and IFMP will also intensify marketing of other fish species in the lake to ease the pressure currently exerted on the lucrative Nile perch (Mbuta). The move would boost the production and reduce commercial concentration on the Nile perch whose stocks are dwindling. The Nile perch is the leading foreign exchange earner among fish species in the second largest fresh water lake in the world due to aggressive marketing. Products associated with the breed were branded and promoted as an alternative source of nutrients, "Initially, locally and internationally, the Nile perch was treated for its smell. We found better uses for it and marketed it effectively. Now the supply cannot match its demand", said the IFMP executive secretary, Thomas Maenbe. He noted that although large volumes of dagas (omena) are harvested from the lake, income from the species does not match the weights landed. Information and statistics released by the IFMP indicates that by last year 800,000 tonnes of fish were harvested from Lake Victoria. Dagas is mainly used for the production of animals feed locally and in the international market. It is also a high protein food consumed by the low-income bracket Kenyans because of its affordability in large quantity at most local markets in Western Region. Daga account for 44 per cent of weight followed by Nile perch at 32 per cent, tilapia (10 per cent)and others with only one per cent. In terms of income, Nile perch contributes 71 per cent of the total share, followed by daga at 12 per cent while tilapia contributed a one per cent. The fish industry is the main stay of the Nyanza and Western provinces economy. Close to 100,000 fishermen are presently engaged in the fishing job. An equal number is also supported indirectly by way of fish trade. Ends Leooderaomolo@yahoo.com The writer is LUOCOME REPORTER based in Kisumu. We urge all LUOCOME members with pressing issues pertaining to media and press releases to kindly contact him from any where in world. He will assist you to get true picture of your Village Developement. LUOCOME-MEDIA ===================================================== Joluo.com Ka in gi mari moro ma di wandik ka to orni Akelo nyar Kager, jaluo@jaluo.com Daher winjo dwondi in bende, iwinjo?	IDWARO TICH? INJILI GOSPEL GALAMORO : Riwruok mar JOLUO e Piny Ngima, orwaku uduto mondo ubed e kanyakla mar burani. Ornwa nyingi gi nondi kaka obedo. Riwruok e teko joka Nyanam. WENDO MIWA PARO OD PAKRUOK

Kisumu

EU TO BOOST FISHERMEN'S EFFORT IN LAKE VICTORIA

By Leo Odera Omolo

Disclosing this, Dr.Jim Scullion, the project manager of implementation of Fish Management Programme (IFMP), said that the grant is expected to increase income from fishing due to improved quality.

"The lake is producing below its capacity because fish is highly perishable and therefore huge amounts are likely to go to waste". Dr.Scullion said adding that Kenya loses more than Kshs. 3.6 billions in earnings due to bad roads and lack of good storage and refrigeration facilities. Installation of the equipment, said the project manager would give way for the auctioning of fresh fish.

Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization and IFMP will also intensify marketing of other fish species in the lake to ease the pressure currently exerted on the lucrative Nile perch (Mbuta).

The move would boost the production and reduce commercial concentration on the Nile perch whose stocks are dwindling. The Nile perch is the leading foreign exchange earner among fish species in the second largest fresh water lake in the world due to aggressive marketing.

Products associated with the breed were branded and promoted as an alternative source of nutrients, "Initially, locally and internationally, the Nile perch was treated for its smell. We found better uses for it and marketed it effectively. Now the supply cannot match its demand", said the IFMP executive secretary, Thomas Maenbe.

He noted that although large volumes of dagas (omena) are harvested from the lake, income from the species does not match the weights landed.

Information and statistics released by the IFMP indicates that by last year 800,000 tonnes of fish were harvested from Lake Victoria.

Dagas is mainly used for the production of animals feed locally and in the international market. It is also a high protein food consumed by the low-income bracket Kenyans because of its affordability in large quantity at most local markets in Western Region. Daga account for 44 per cent of weight followed by Nile perch at 32 per cent, tilapia (10 per cent)and others with only one per cent.

In terms of income, Nile perch contributes 71 per cent of the total share, followed by daga at 12 per cent while tilapia contributed a one per cent.

The fish industry is the main stay of the Nyanza and Western provinces economy. Close to 100,000 fishermen are presently engaged in the fishing job. An equal number is also supported indirectly by way of fish trade.

Ends
Leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

The writer is LUOCOME REPORTER based in Kisumu. We urge all LUOCOME members with pressing issues pertaining to media and press releases to kindly contact him from any where in world. He will assist you to get true picture of your Village Developement.
LUOCOME-MEDIA