As climate change continues to alter ecological conditions and weather patterns, humans are increasingly adapting by developing innovative solutions to mitigate its adverse effects. One such inventive approach gaining traction among career farmers is inland cage fish farming. Although this method is not yet widespread in Kenya, the impacts of water pollution and climate change may soon necessitate its adoption.
In Awendo Sub County, one farmer is challenging the conventional wisdom that cage fish farming can only be conducted in large natural water bodies such as lakes and oceans. The construction of a man-made linear dam at Ranenville Aqua Farm in Awendo Sub County exemplifies this innovative approach. The 80-meter deep Ranenville Aqua dam, which holds 13 cages, stands as one of the largest artificial water masses on land, making it a significant hub for cage farming in the Nyanza Region.
Denis Odhiambo, the aqua-culturist and manager of Ranenville Aqua Farm, explains that each of their 13 single cages houses 4,000 tilapia fish, turning the venture into a lucrative business, especially with the readily available market from Migori Rio Fish Limited. According to Odhiambo, one inland cage kit measuring 2.5 meters in width, five meters in length, and three meters in depth has the capacity of four standard fish ponds, making it an economically efficient system for fish production.
Ranenville Aqua Farm utilizes the new improved F8 generation-Nile tilapia, obtained from the Sagana Aquaculture Centre. This F8 strain matures faster, is highly nutritious, and feeds low on the food chain. Additionally, the strain is opportunistically omnivorous and resistant to poor water quality and diseases. Odhiambo emphasizes that the fish are fed eight times a day to achieve the desired growth rate, reaching size four within three months. This intensive culture system allows the farm to harvest fish twice a year, compared to the once-a-year harvest typical of ordinary pond fish farming.
The dam’s confined nature allows for controlled environmental conditions that prevent pollution, the invasion of aquatic vegetation such as water hyacinth, and competition from exotic species and other predators found in open water bodies like Lake Victoria and the Indian Ocean. The dam is aerated twice daily to ensure a continuous supply of fresh water, essential for fish survival.
In 2023, cage fish farmers in Lake Victoria suffered significant losses due to stock depletion, with Kisumu and Homabay Counties losing Sh884 million and Sh43 million worth of stock, respectively, affecting 135 cage farmers. In contrast, Ranenville Aqua Farm introduced fingerlings and feed production to meet its high fish production demand and serve the local market, showcasing the resilience and economic viability of inland cage farming.
Odhiambo advises fish farmers to embrace creativity, patience, and the right mindset for successful fish production. He also encourages farmers to attend training sessions to acquire technical skills in aquaculture and join savings and credit cooperative societies (Saccos) for easier marketability. Organizations like the Aquaculture Business Development Programme (ABDP) have been instrumental in supporting the development of fish enterprises, community nutrition initiatives, and the aquaculture value chain in rural areas.
As climate change continues to shape ecological conditions, inland cage fish farming presents a promising and sustainable solution for ensuring food security and economic stability in Kenya. The success of Ranenville Aqua Farm serves as a testament to the potential of this innovative approach, paving the way for broader adoption across the country.
