Browsing by Author "Ogello, E. O."

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Impacts of Covid-19 Pandemic and Adaptive Strategies to Build Resilience in the Kenyan Aquaculture Sector
(AfricArXiv Preprints, 2022) Munguti, J.; Iteba, J. O.; Outa, N.; Kirimi, J.; Mungai, D.; Kyule, D.; Obiero, K.; Ogello, E. O.
This study examines the impacts of Covid-19 pandemic and adaptive strategies to build resilience among stakeholders and actors in the aquaculture value chain in Kenya. Prior to the pandemic, Kenya's aquaculture sector had progressed from a minor player to a key component of the country's fish food system. Fish and fishery products have become the most heavily traded food commodity in Kenyan markets. The results indicate that the pandemic had major impacts on the access to aquaculture inputs, fish trade, and socio-economic livelihoods of the aquaculture value chain stakeholders and actors during the two whole years. Thus, initial and longer-term adaptive measures, in particular by private sector players and government agencies can contribute to building resilience to multiple shocks and stressors among stakeholders and actors in the aquaculture sector. Some of the measures include government incentive package to overcome the damage to the fisheries and aquaculture sector, improve farming operations and win market trusts and adoption of new methods such as intelligent sensors, camera systems and automated or remotely controlled monitoring/feeding strategies to reduce labour intensity. Such measures and policies can cushion the sector against future shocks occasioned by such pandemics.
Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus Linnaeus, 1758) Culture in Kenya: Emerging Production Technologies and Socio-Economic Impacts on Local Livelihoods
(John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 2022) Munguti, J. M.; Nairuti, R.; Iteba, J. O.; Obiero, K. O.; Kyule, D.; Opiyo, M. A.; Abwao, J.; Kirimi, J. G.; Outa, N.; Muthoka, M.; Ogello, E. O.
Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is one of the most farmed fish globally, with a signif- icant contribution improving local livelihoods, especially in developing countries. Nile tilapia was first cultured in Kenya in 1924 and is the most cultured fish species. Annu- ally, O. niloticus accounts for 62% (∼15,000 tonnes) of total aquaculture production. Although O. niloticus is the most preferred cultured fish, its culture faces challenges, for example, early maturation due to prolific breeding behaviour leading to stunted growth that limits its culture and profitability among smallholder farmers. With the surging demand for locally farmed fish, innovative technologies have emerged to boost aqua- culture production. Donor and public research-funded projects, for instance, the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project, are validating various aquaculture technologies, innovations and management practices (TIMPs) to achieve ‘triple wins’ of increased fish production, improved resilience and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. In addi- tion, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-funded Aquaculture Business Development Programme aims at commercialising aquaculture to improve local livelihoods. In this study, we adopt a scoping review methodology to review and synthesise published literature on tilapia culture in Kenya to explore current and emerging tilapia production technologies and document their socio-economic impacts on farmers’ livelihoods. These emerging innovative technologies range from culture systems, for example, biofloc, periphyton, fingerpond technology, integrated aquacul- ture, breeding and genetics (selective breeding), fish health and biosecurity measures, to post-harvest loss reduction, value addition and marketing. The study findings reveal that the technologies have great potential to increase tilapia production and prof- itability and positively impact the local livelihoods of smallholder fish farmers through employment creation, economic growth and better nutrition.