2. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS

2.1. FISHFRY PRODUCTION CENTRES (F.P.C.)

2.1.1. Existing and projected F.P.C.'s

Under L.B.D.A. management, three F.P.C.'s (Kibos, Rongo, Borabu are operating, one is under construction (Chwele) and four are projected (Kibos 2, Busia, Siaya, Kakamega).

Under the Fisheries Department management, one fish-farm can be easily turned into a F.P.C. (Funyula), and one F.P.C. is under construction in Kisii.

note: *** FFM: fishfarm manager; FPA: fish pond attendant;
** 7 FPA + 4 watchmen + 1 fish-guard.

2.1.2 F.P.C. Kibos.

Area and number of ponds: Kibos 1 operating: 8000 m² distributed amongst 6 large 1200 m² ponds + 3 smaller ponds (see plan next page). Kibos 2 projected to be the same, symmetrical to Kibos 1.

Stocking: Pond n^o2: brooders ratio 1 male/3 females, originating from broodstock Lake Victoria 1984, Oreochromis niloticus + hybrids. Pond n^o1: empty, will be stocked with brooders from pond n^o2. Ponds A + B: nursery: stocked with fingerlings 15 g; sexing at 40 g: males then stock ponds n^o3, 4, 5, 6. Pond C: stocking 300 g table size fish before selling.

Pond n^o3: stocked with 500 males 30 to 40 g, now ± 300 g Pond n^o4,5,6: stocked 750 males 30 to 40 g, now ± 60 g According to FFM, there is no breeding in the monosex ponds.

Feeding, fertilizing: the intensive use of artificial fertilizer (ammonium phosphate) produces rich greenish water. The live-stock (sheep) droppings are not sufficient to be effective.

Productivity: according to LBDA statement: 800 kg fingerling per year, what remains far below the centre capacity.

Economics: 1 kg of fish (fingerlings or table size 300 to 500 g) is sold 20 K.Sh., the market price being around 35 K.Sh./kg.

FPC Kibos is not selfsupporting due to high personne expenses (2 FFM + 18 FPA + watchmen; while 1 FFM + 8 FPA + 2 watchmen expected), to poor production, to unadapted selling prices (fingerlings mixed 15 g same price as monosex 40 g and as table size 500 g), and to bad income management. The will of LBDA to turn the FPC's into marketing fish production would not solve the management problems, and would divert the FPC's from their goal of supplying fingerlings to the fish-farmers.

FISH FRY PRODUCTION CENTRE AT KIBOS, KISUMU DISTRICT

Maintenance: the general maintenance is good (grass well cut, clean aspect of dikes and ponds). However, the steep slope (ratio 1/1) causes erosion to start in all ponds. That problem is more acute in pond n^o5 where erosion is important: the dike as been reinforced with sticks (dots on the plan). Technical maintenance is poor: electrical connections of the pumps corroded and not insulated, access to pumps encumbered with grass and dirt. The two Grundfos pumps have not been maintained since early 1987: two new turbines must be ordered and replaced.

Equipment: Available in the Centre: 1 water quality test kit Hach, 2 oxygen cylinders with regulators (*), 3 round multiunit stores, 2 harvest nets, 1 fingerling seine net 25 m, 1 small green small mesh net (list not completed).

(*): statement national team leader.

Required by personnel: gum boots, gloves, rubber shoes, soap, chairs, first aid kit, seining clothes.

2.1.3. F.P.C. Rongo

Area and number of ponds: 2294 m² for 8 operating ponds plus 1 pond P5 232 m² abandoned (see plan next page).

Stocking: Ponds P6 + P7: broodstock Oreochromis niloticus from Kibos. When fry reaches 10 g, it is transfered to ponds N1 + N2 (nursery). The fingerlings reaching 40 g and over are then sold to fish farmers (transportation ensured by the U.N. volunteer based in Kisii), or undergo a sexing. The selected males are transfered, 1 per m², to the productio ponds (P1, P2, P3, P4). However, many fry can be seen in the production ponds, proving bad sexing.

FISH FRY PRODUCTION CENTRE AT RONGO, SOUTH NYANZA DISTRICT

Feeding, fertilizing: since the dairy meal and fertilizers bags are finished, no feeding or fertilizing is carried out in the ponds. No attempt is made to produce compost. Water has a brownish colour.

Productivity: last harvest of production ponds P1 + P2 was 90 kg of fish (may 1988). These are the only data available. The records of the centre does not seem to be kept properly. In any case, the production of both fingerlings and table size fish is very low. See master list annex A.2.1.

Economics: no book-keeping available. The fish is sold 20 KSh/kg. The centre shows a deficit due to low production and low income.

Maintenance and general condition: the only maintenance activity is grass cutting on the dikes. The drainage canal is deeply eroded in some places and endangered the ponds dikes. The bottom of the drainage canal consists of dirt, and the few stones scattered on the bottom are not sufficient to prevent erosion. The pond P5 is abandoned: his level is too high to allow water filling, and the bottom not watertight (sand). The ponds need also maintenance.

Equipment: Available in the Centre: 2 round multi-unit stores 2 toilets (evaluated 45000 K.Sh.), 4 wheel-barrows, several shovels and hoes' (need repairs), 8 bags cement, 1 spring balance, several small items, 1 harvesting net 4 cm mesh 20 m 1 seine net for fingerlings 2 cm. mesh, 1 net 2 cm. mesh 7 m for FFE. Note: no water test kit.

Required by personnel: 1 fishing net 30 m for fingerlings, 1 table for sexing, 1 table + 2 chairs for office work, shelter to provide shade while sexing, string for mounting and repairing nets, feeding and fertilizing bags, gum boots, 1 spring balance, baskets.

Also needed: additional small mesh (1 cm) and light iron bars for building net cages for fingerling stocking in the pond while sexing. One water test kit.

2.1.4. F.P.C. Borabu.

Area and number of ponds: 5010 m² for 7 ponds (see plan next page. Built in 1986 on a land not adapted for that purpose (swamp).

Personnel: One fish farm manager and 3 fish ponds attentands: see annex A.1.2.1.

Stocking: Mixing of Tilapia zillii, Oreochromis niloticus and other possible species and hybrids, collected from individual fish-farmers without any control of species quality. According to the FFM, most of the fish are T. zillii.
Ponds N1 + N2: broodstock ratio 1 male/3 female;
Ponds P3, P4, P5: reproduction: male + female sex ratio unknown;

Ponds P1, P2: production: monosex.

Feeding, fertilizing: Dairy meal being used, still the water has dirt-brown colour due to the large amount of water that is needed to add every day in the ponds in order to compensate the loss of water through the bottom and the dikes of the ponds. In these conditions, all attempts for feeding or fertilizing are useless.

Productivity: the last harvest took … place in may 1988. However, the FFM can not remember how much was harvested, and no records are available. Very low production.

See master list annex A.2.1. : lack of records.

Economics: No book-keeping available. Fingerlings sold 20 K. Sh./kg. Centre showing a deficit.

Maintenance and general condition: As said above, this centre is located in a swamp, with the following results:

• the bottom of the ponds P3, P4 and P5 consists of a spongy material (peat litter) that is not watertight (loss of large amount of water every day), and that swells, raising in that way the ground level. A large area of the ponds P4 and P5 emerges above the water level (see plan);
• the dikes of these ponds are completely swampy and soft, no watertight, and almost at water level;
• the drainage canal has turned back into a full swamp, congested with plants, and does not drain any more water;
• no possibility of draining ponds P3, P4, P5.

FISH FRY PRODUCTION CENTRE AT BORABU, KISII DISTRICT

F=filter;
sh=shed;
st=store

The fast running water from the spillway causes deep erosion in the North dike of P5. No attempt is made by the personnel to repair the dike.

The dikes of the upper ponds are digged with moles runs. The LBDA idea of using poison to destroy the moles is dangerous because of the retentivity of the poison in the dikes, and the possible long term poisoning of the ponds.

Equipment: Available in the Centre: 1 round multi-unit store, 3 dairy meal bags, 6 wheelbarrows, 14 shovels*, 5 rakes*, 7 njembes*, 9 slashers, 1 seine net 4 cm mesh 15 m, 1 sorting table (sexing), 1 water test kit Hach. (*: need repairs) Required by personnel: table + chairs (office work), waders, gum boots, workwear.

Also needed: seine net for fingerlings.

2.1.5. F.P.C. Chwele.

Area and number of ponds: 6770 m² for 5 ponds (see plan next page). Built in 1987, almost terminated.

Personnel: One fish farm manager and 2 fish pond attendants: see annex A.1.2.1.

Stocking: Centre not yet stocked.

Expected stocking: N1: nursery (rearing of fingerlings);
B1: broodstock (production of fingerlings);
P1, P2, P3: production (monosex for table size fish).

Broodstock: Oreochromis niloticus from Lake Victoria.

Maintenance and general condition: the ponds are already digged, the inlet and outlet pipes installed, and the ponds were partly filled at the time of the visit. However, more work must be done:

• grass planting on the dikes;
• enhance the height and stabilize the dam;
• reinforce and stabilize the main dike and the spillway levee that are too soft;
• build a bridge over the spillway;
• the passage from the reservoir to the spillway, congested with plants, must be cleaned and deeper digged;
• installation of frog fences;
• build an office and small laboratory;
• build a live-stock shed;
• install holding tanks.

FISH FRY PRODUCTION CENTRE AT CHWELE, BUNGOMA DISTRICT

2.1.6. F.P.C. Alupe (projected).

The site of Alupe is proposed by LBDA for building the F.P.C. projected for the District of Busia.

Description of the site: the site of Alupe was bought by LBDA to be used as a grazing-ground for cattle.

It is located on top of a flat table-land.

At the time of the visit (rainy season), some water runned out of three small springs. A local watchman/farmer employed by LBDA said that these springs may dry up during the dry season.

The soil, dry in spite of the heavy rain of the night before, is made of sand, not of clay.

The plants consist mainly on scattered grass and on dry-land adapted plants (cactus,…).

2.1.7. F.P.C. Yala Swamp (projected).

The site of Yala Swamp is proposed by LBDA for building the F.P.C. projected for the District of Siaya. The FAO expert did not have the opportunity to visit the site.

In order to avoid the construction of a centre that could look like Borabu, it is proposed to undertake a complete study of the site before any commitment is made.

2.1.8. Funyula fish-farm (Fisheries Department).

The Funyula fish-farm managed by the Fisheries Department could be easily turned into a F.P.C., and provide fingerlings to the District of Busia pending the achievement of LBDA centre.

Area and number of ponds: 4660 m² for 8 ponds.

Description and general condition: Eight ponds in line, the outlet of the up-stream pond being the inlet of down-stream pond.

Each pond fitted with a monk, not maintained, some broken. Along the ponds runs a drainage canal, not maintained. Due to heavy rains and bad maintenance: overflooding from up ponds into down ponds.

The three last down-stream ponds can not be drained because they are at the drainage canal level.

There is no effective device to control the inlet and outlet in the ponds.

Stocking: the latest stocking took place in 1985, where 7 kg fingerlings were stocked in two ponds.

No record was available concerning the production.

The ponds are not stocked.

See master list annex A.2.1.

2.1.9. District Fish Multiplication Centre Kisii.

The Fisheries Department, District Kisii, has under construction a “Fish Multiplication Centre” of nine ponds, 1520 m² (see plan next page).

General condition: Centre well located close to the town and the offices of the Fisheries Department. The feeding river has a high flow that never dries up. Good soil of clay. The nine ponds are already digged but the bottom of the ponds were not yet levelled and the inlet/outlet pipes not installed yet. An active team of workers in working in the site, and the Centre should be soon operating.

Stocking: the intend of the Fisheries Department is to rear Oreochromis niloticus and Clarias lazera.

However, the District Field Officer is willing to produce fingerlings of O. niloticus in order to provide the fish-farmers of the District.

DISTRICT FISH MULTIPLICATION CENTRE - KISII (sketch plan)
FISHERIES DEPARTMENT

2.1.10. Conclusions

Among the operating F.P.C.'s, only Kibos and Rongo produce fingerlings, although Rongo's production is very low and Kibos is far below its production capacity.

This situation arises from different factors:

• poor management: records not kept or not reliable (except Kibos), plus see below;
• poor maintenance: maintenance is based mainly on cutting grass on the dikes, not in maintaining the ponds themselves or the inlet and drainage canals, not in reinforcing dikes;
• poor fertilising and feeding: none compost crate at all was found to be filled or effective; except in Kibos where ammonium phosphate and dairy meal is being used, no greenish water;
• poor broodstock: latest broodstock stocking in Kibos made in 1984 from the Lake; mixed broodstock Oreochromis niloticus + Tilapia zillii (the later coming from fishfarmers) + other species suspected in Borabu; no species control; as a result: no assurance that the fingerlings produced are pure genetic O. niloticus or T. zillii; no selection;
• poor balance of personnel: 18 FPA in Kibos, 7 in Rongo, 3 in Borabu;
• according to the Fisheries Specialist of LBDA, the first priority of the F.P.C.'s is now to produce table size fish for marketing, not to produce fingerlings: poor willingness;
• poor equipment: broken tools, not repaired (spades, shovels, wheelbarrows, racks,… those could be easily repaired in the site), “lost” or out of use gum boots, seine nets missing or not repaired,…

This short production of fingerlings does not meet the needs of the fishfarmers, who are compelled to buy fingerlings from each other, thus without any guarantee of genetic quality or any insurance against buying small degenerated adults.

The first problem in supplying the fishfarmers with fingerlings is not the transportation, that is well ensured by the two U.N.Volunteers, but is the low production of the F.P.C.'s.

2.2. VISITED FISH-FARMS.

2.2.1. List of visited fish-farms.

In order to get a view on the fish-farms surveyed by the Project, several fish-farms of each Districts, belonging as well to private farmers than to government organizations, have been visited.

Their condition has been set, and advices given to the farmers, when possible.

The list of the visited ponds is compiled from the computerized master list of fish ponds for the Lake Basin area. That master list has not been brought up to date since the computer went back under LBDA custody.

See master list annex A.2.2.

2.2.2. General condition of the visited fish-farms.

Personnel: For most of the fish-farmers, fish-farming is an extra activity. Most of them tend their ponds themselves and/or with the help of their family.

Some groups hire labourers (District Kakamega, farmer n^o3074**) as some individual owners do (Bungoma, 5189)**

One private farmer has his seven ponds maintained by two fish pond attendants (Joseph Oteyo and Joseph Okech) employed and payed by LBDA (South Nyanza, 0886).

Stocking: Among the 31 farmers (± 112 ponds) visited in all the Districts covered by the Project:-11 of them got their fingerlings or broodstock from different sources: other farm and F.P.C. (Bungoma 2242, 5562; South-Nyanza 0979; Kisumu 5112, 5114, 5118, 0693, 5627; Kakamega 5845), or other farm, F.P.C. and Lake Victoria (Busia 2521, 2489: Fisheries Department);

- 12 of them got their fingerlings only from other farms (Bungoma 5189, 3523; Kisii 1722, 1573, 6198; Nyamira 3681, 3684, 0329; Siaya 0761, 0765. 0770: Busia 2523):

** see master list annex A.2.2.; the terms “District” and “Farmer n^o” will not be repeated hereinafter.

- 7 of them got their fingerlings only from F.P.C.'s: Kibos FPC (Kakamega 3074; Siaya 3050, 0790), Rongo FPC (South-Nyanza 0886) Borabu FPC (Kisii 6197, Nyamira 1253, 1254).

The F.P.C.'s provided 19 farmers: Kibos FPC: 14 farmers,
Rongo FPC: 2 farmers,
Borabu FPC: 3 farmers (5 ponds).

The data above make it clear that the F.P.C.'s do not perform their duties: even in Kisumu District, no one farmer (on the six visited) relied on Kibos FPC as sole fingerlings supplier.

All fish-farmers (except Kisii 1722, 1573; Nyamira 3681) raise Oreochromis niloticus, originating from other farms (19 farmers), from F.P.C.'s (19 farmers) or directly from Lake Victoria (2 farmers).

7 fish-farmers (Bungoma 5562; Kisii 6198; Nyamira 3684, 0329, 1253, 1254; South-Nyanza 0979) raise Tilapia zillii mixed with O. niloticus, originating from other farms (Bungoma 5562; Kisii 6198; Nyamira 3684, 0329; South-Nyanza 0979) or from Borabu FPC (Nyamira 1253, 1254). Three fish-farmers (Kisii 1722, 1573; Nyamira 3681) raise only T. zillii, originating from other farms. Two farmers (Busia 2523; Kisumu 0681) raise Clarias (lazera ?) in addition to O. niloticus.

Most of the fish-farmers raising T. zillii in the District of Kisii and Nyamira say that they have better results with that species. This is due mainly to the fact that these Districts are located in altitude, where the weather is colder than in the other Districts. In addition to that, seeing that the fish eat the plants the fish-farmers drop in the ponds, the later do not make any more attempt to fertilize the ponds with organic wastes like menure, promoting the feeding of T. zillii to the prejudice of O. niloticus. However, the rearing of T. zillii is not justified in the case of those fish-farmers whose ponds are not located in a cold area (Bungoma 5562; South-Nyanza 0979).

Monosex culture is carried out by nine fish-farmers (Kakamega 3074; Bungoma 5189; 3523; South-Nyanza 0886; Siaya 0790; Kisumu 5114, 5112, 5118, 0693).

The male fingerlings, selected at about 40 g, are coming from Kibos FPC for 6 fish-farmers.

Three farmers produce their own fingerlings: South-Nyanza 0886 (sexing made by the 2 fish pond attendants hired by LBDA), Bungoma 3523 (sexing made by a fish scout from the Fisheries Department), Bungoma 5189 (sexing made by fish farm extensionnist LBDA).

Those of the fish-farmers who tried monosex do not want to come back to mixed (male + female) production.

We must emphasize the fact that, except for some rare fish-farms, there is absolutely no guarantee of genetic quality of the fingerlings or adults stocked in the ponds, as no control is made during the stocking (fish purchased from other farms or not reliable FPC like Borabu), and as the pond are rarely completely drained before stocking.

Feeding, fertilizing:

None of all fish-farms was found to be fitted with well maintained manure cribs.

Only seven fish-farmers took some care of fertilizing their ponds, in a way that the water colour turned to green or greenish-brown.

Those fish-farmers used therefore:

• manure (poultry, pig, cow): Kakamega 3074; Kisumu 0693;
• manure + maize flour: Kisii 6197; Siaya 0790; Kisumu 5112;
• manure + maize flour + termites: Kakamega 5845;
• ammonium phosphate + dairy meal: South-Nyanza 0886 (greeniest water).

Productivity:

Little precise data are available concerning the productivity of the fish-farms as only few farmers keep records of their production.

However, Kakamega 5845 claims a productivity of 25 kg/are/year, and Bungoma 5189 a productivity of 18 kg/are/year. The results of productivity given in the master list are not fully reliable, as the weight of the stocked fish is not deduct from the harvest weight before calculating the productivity.

Most of the farmers practise partial harvest without recording their catch.

Actually, only few farmers do not complain of low productivity: Siaya 0790 (farmer trained by LBDA in 1987), South-Nyanza 0886 (2 fish pond attendants taking care of the ponds + intensive use of artificial fertiliser).

Economics:

Farmers of Kisumu, Busia and Siaya Districts complain on the competition of the fish coming from the Lake: larger (500 g and over), it is better appreciated than the reared fish sold about 250 g to 400g. The reared fish is mostly sold at the price of 10 to 15 K.Sh./kg, while 1 kg Lake fish reaches often 35 K.Sh. in the market.

In the occurrence of a total harvest, the neighbours come to buy the fish. The production is never sufficient to be sold in the market.

Partial harvest is mainly practised for the family consumption (sometimes of high level: South-Nyanza 0886), or when the farmer needs some money. One farmer practises daily harvests for his restaurant (Siaya 0790).

For all the farmers, fish-farming is an extra activity: none of them intends to invest all his land, his energy and his money in the sole fish-farming.

Maintenance:

Few farmers maintain their ponds properly, although they realize that better maintenance may increase the production.

For most of the ponds: - drainage canals are not maintained and choked up;
- no, or too steep slope: erosion;
- often not possible to drain (low lands);
- lack of overflooding system;
- lack of stand pipe for draining;
- no manure crates.

To achieve better maintenance, several farmers ask for permanent equipment (wheelbarrows, spades,…), for artificial fertilizer, for more technical advices and more follow-up to be provided by LBDA.