Former minister and Westlands MP Fred Gumo is now the leading investor in fish cage farming in Lake Victoria.
Gumo who was famously known as “Kaa Ngumu” has put up 10 cages of 10,000 fish each at Mulukoba Beach, Busia County, which will mature in the next six months.
He is among 21 investors who have put up cages in a bid to promote the Blue Economy on Lake Victoria.
Fish cage farming is Busia County flagship program whose first harvest was officially launched by Governor Sospeter Ojaamong yesterday.
“ I opted to invest in fish cage farming to serve as an example to the local community that everything is possible; one cage is expensive, I urge the community to form groups of five people each to procure one cage,” he said.
Gumo also urged companies that supply fish feeds to lower their prices to march the current maize prices which is relatively low.
Governor Ojaamong said his Government will increase funding for fish cage farming and give his technical team full support to make fish cage farming the leading revenue generator in the county.
“We have to be creative and look for job opportunities. The lake is our greatest resource,” he said.
The partial harvest of one cage with a capacity of 10,000 saw 3400 pieces (1.1 tons) of fish being harvested.
The on-going process will continue for the next three months with harvests pegged on demand from traders.
Deputy Governor Moses Mulomi said fish cage farming will stimulate economic growth, noting that there is need for Members of the County Assembly to set aside funds for purchase of cages to residents willing to venture into Fish Farming.
Budalangi MP Raphael Wanjala said the rapid depletion of fish in the lake was occasioned by use of poor fishing methods and toxic water along the river mouth.
He said the county will use a dredger to remove the dirt and waste.
Agriculture Executive Dr Moses Osia said the County allocated over Ksh1million to promote Fish farming (Cage Culture) along Lake Victoria in Samia and Bunyala Sub Counties.
He added that there are over 100 fish cages with many fish.