Farm Africa unveils online training portal for fish farmers
02 February 2018
Farm Africa has launched a one-of-a-kind online training platform focused on fish farming.
The training website, which was developed as part of Farm Africa’s Dutch-funded Kenya Market-led Aquaculture Programme (KMAP), helps fish farmers, traders, fingerling producers, feed manufacturers and other stakeholders across the aquaculture value chain develop the technical and business skills needed to setting up a successful fish farming business.
The website includes four training modules that offer detailed guidance on four subjects: pond construction, pond stocking, fish health management, and fish harvesting and transportation to market.
The site offers a multiple-choice exam in each module. Upon successful completion of all four exams, participants will be able to print certificates of completion and also have the training material at their disposal for future reference.
Arnoud Meijberg, the KMAP Team Leader said, “By equipping key aquaculture players with skills and providing market linkages with private sector markets, KMAP is ensuring sustainable growth of their businesses. We have so far witnessed an increase in production and productivity of medium- to large-scale fish farmers, hatcheries and fish feed producers. By introducing the online training portal, Farm Africa will ensure a wider reach of our training material to farmers across the geographical divide in Kenya and beyond.”
Launched two years ago, KMAP has so far recruited over 1,000 farmers, 400 of whom have undergone training on good aquaculture practices. Noteworthy change has been observed with the trained farmers adopting the skills and technologies disseminated by KMAP, understanding their production costs and calculating the returns on their investment.
Evans Nyabuto, a farmer in Nyamira County, said: “I have shifted from subsistence to commercial fish farming since undergoing training. I was getting meager profits from my venture before but since KMAP came on board, I learnt about proper feeding using quality feeds and I’m certain that I will be in for a bountiful harvest and improved sales.”
