International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) team today paid a courtesy call to Nyeri Governor H.E. Mutahi Kahiga to discuss the Aquaculture business in Nyeri County.
The team led by Samuel Macharia briefed the Governor about the two-day workshop to be held at the Wambugu ATC to sensitize all stakeholders about aquaculture and discuss the MoU between the County Government of Nyeri and IFAD.
The Governor highlighted the NCDs (Non-Communicable Diseases) that are rampant in Nyeri while reiterating the need to mitigate these diseases by creating awareness about proper diet which is inclusive of fish as white meat.
Governor Kahiga promised to support the program since he is proud of the adaptability of Nyeri residents to taking up new economic activities such as fish farming and fish consumption.
He also requested the IFAD team to also help in sourcing for fish market so that the county does not invest in the business only to lack adequate market for the fish.
Nyeri County was recently selected as the secretariat for the aquaculture business development program among other 15 counties in the country selected for IFAD fund through ABDP (Aquaculture Business Development Program) which is aimed at stimulating aquaculture. During the launch in Nyeri in April, Principal Secretary State Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Blue Economy Prof. Micheni Ntiba was in the company of H.E Mutahi Kahiga and Nyeri’s Deputy Governor Dr. Caroline Karugu among other dignitaries and stakeholders in the sector.
ABDP is an IFAD funded program which will last for eight years and is to cover 15 high potential aquaculture production counties. This program will help increase the income, food security and nutritional status of the wider communities of rural households involved in the aquaculture in the targeted counties.
In attendance during today’s courtesy call by the IFAD team were CEC Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries James Wachihi, Agriculture Chief Officer Ruth Mwangi and the team leader IFAD Mr. Samuel Macharia.
