Tetu Constituency

 

                  
 

     
Changing lives through Constituency Development Funds
   
     

Tetu fish project

In an effort to increase agricultural productivity in smallholder farms, a community based fish farming pilot project, namely Ihwa Farmers Self-help Group , was initiated in Tetu location in September 2007. The group raised the initial funds through registration fees and investment by members.

Lease of land and construction of fish ponds started in February 2008, and the first 7,500 fish fingerlings were introduced on 18 th April 2008

 

  

   
Constituents building fish ponds Finished fish ponds

Ihwa Farmers Self-help Group is the brainchild of Dr. Joseph Mathu Ndung'u, a world renowned research veterinarian and former Director of Kenya Trypanosomiasis Research Institute (KETRI), a donor funded Government research institution, since merged with Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI). Dr. Ndungu remains the group's patron, as well as being the principal shareholder of Shama Fish and Bacon Co. Ltd.

Donations were solicited from individuals.

The MP for Tetu, Hon. F.T Nyammo, donated Kshs. 1.6m towards this project and pledged KShs. 50,000/- to each of the other locations in the district towards similar projects.

Non-resident Tetu professionals and business people were invited and encouraged to invest and be shareholders @ Kshs.41,000/- and also sponsor ponds @ Kshs.50,000/- per pond, as a way of raising funds.

The project currently has 67 fish ponds with a population of approximately 2000 fingerings per fish pond. Harvesting started in February 2009

Technical assistance to the group is provided by the Ministry of Fisheries.

Shama Fish & Bacon Co. Ltd provides the day today management of the fish project and is expected to provide marketing services for the end product.

Two other projects were started in Aguthi and Kimathi locations in late 2008.

The unique public private partnership in which the community owns the project, technical advice is given by Government, and both project management and marketing are done by a private company are expected to guarantee high standards of project management, accountability and sustainability.

As indicated above, a further 200 fish ponds are under construction in various parts of the district under the ESP.

It is expected that these projects will further create sustainable employment for our youth and lead to reduction of poverty, creation of wealth and increased agricultural productivity.