From aid to responsible trade: driving competitive aquaculture sector development in Kenya : Quick scan of robustness, reliability and resilience of the aquaculture sector

Abstract

This report provides an overview of how the Kenyan aquaculture sector performs in three analytical domains: the robustness of the supply chain, the reliability of institutional governance and the resilience of the innovation system. Analysis is based on literature review, stakeholder interviews and a validation workshop guided by a SWOT framework to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. The findings inform on the existing opportunities and challenges that potentially influence growth in the aquaculture sector. The report is a first step towards documenting and sharing insights that support the move towards a more Robust, Reliable and Resilient (3R) aquaculture sector. The findings and recommendations presented may guide policy engagement and action in the transition of Dutch government bilateral engagement in Kenya from development aid-support to a trade-oriented approach, with a focus on partnership opportunities to drive competitive market-oriented aquaculture sector development that attracts private investments. The user may copy, distribute and transmit the work and create derivative works. Third-party material that has been used in the work and to which intellectual property rights apply may not be used without prior permission of the third party concerned. The user must specify the name as stated by the author or licence holder of the work, but not in such a way as to give the impression that the work of the user or the way in which the work has been used are being endorsed. The user may not use this work for commercial purposes. Executive summaryThe 3R (Robust, Reliable and Resilient) project assists the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kenya in the transition from aid to trade. The project investigates whether the lessons from the development aid era can be transferred and scaled up in the upcoming transition to a trade era. The overall aim of the 3R Kenya project is to enable well-informed stakeholder actions that support the transition from development aid to sustainable trade (people, planet, profit) in the aquaculture, dairy and horticulture sectors. This quick scan focuses on the aquaculture sector.The 3Rs have been defined as follows:• Robust supply chain integration refers to efficient and trusted interactions between supply chain partners that reduce transaction costs and the risks involved in enhancing product quality and safety and reinforcing sustainability.• Reliable institutional governance refers to public-private cooperation, co-innovation and a public economic policy framework that supports private investment and enhances opportunities for (inter)national trade.• Resilient innovation systems (research, extension and projects) are those with dynamic adaptive capacities that enable agents and systems to adequately respond to changing circumstances.This report covers the topic of freshwater aquaculture relating to the cultivation of fish in Kenya. The main species of study are the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)....

A review of aquaculture production and health management practices of farmed fish in Kenya

“…2) [19]. The ESP-FFEPP was implemented within the 2009 and 2010 financial year, leading to an increase in fish pond area from 220 ha in 2008 to 468 ha in 2009 and a total gross land for aquaculture from 728 ha (2008) to 825 ha (2009) [20].

Fig. 2Map of Kenya indicating areas suitable for freshwater aquaculture: green, highly suitable, pink, medium suitable and yellow, low suitable aquaculture areas based on water availability, climatic conditions, soil type, topography, land use, access to inputs and markets.

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“…Despite the gains in growth following the ESP-FFEPP, aquaculture production in Kenya reduced from 24,096 MT in 2014 to 18,656 MT in 2015 and further to 14, 952 MT in 2016 (Fig. 1) [20]. Similarly, the number of operational fish ponds reduced from 69, 194 (2013) to 60,277 (2015) shrinking the operational area from 2105 to 1873 ha in 2013 and in 2015 respectively [18], [19].…”

Meta-analysis of 3R Kenya findings about the transformation of the aquaculture, dairy and horticulture sectors : Recommendations to support the transition from aid to inclusive aid and trade

“…There is a vertically integrated aquaculture value chain business model including RAS fish hubs or satellite RAS farms around a central fish farm supported through FoodTechAfrica. The viability of the RAS tanks business models independent of public subsidy still needs to be confirmed (Obwanga et al, 2017).…”

“…The sector has well-established institutions for research and training in aquaculture; however, the challenge is still to make the outcomes of research and training meet the requirements of the sector. Africa project (KMFRI, 2017;Njiru et al, 2019;Obwanga & Lewo, 2017;Obwanga et al, 2018;Opiyo et al, 2018).…”

“…A shift to production using RAS and cages may reduce the impacts from climate change. However, there are limitations of using RAS and cages as they are expensive to install and run and may not be available to small-scale farmers, who make up most aquaculture farmers (Obwanga & Lewo, 2017). Aquaculture is already moving more to cage culture, which is less likely to be affected by severe climate change impacts (such as drought and flooding).…”