Since the early eighties the Government of Kenya has put more emphasis on fish production from the natural waters of the country, in order to meet local demand for a fast growing population. This is of particular importance in the western part of the country where 40% of the population lives, although the area represents only 8.4 % of the area of the country. For more than fifteen years, the fish supply to the local population has considerably decreased due to changes in the fishery of Lake Victoria, the traditional source of fish. The introduction of the exotic Nile perch, overfishing, and pollution have led to a substantial decline in fish stocks. The Nile perch fisheries is export based, which further reduces the natural fish supply to the local population.
In 1979 the Government established the Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) with responsibility for the overall planning, coordination, and implementation of programmes aimed at accelerating rural development and improved food production in Nyanza and Western Provinces.
In 1982, a UNDP/FAO Preparatory Assistance Mission concluded that there was an immediate need for more rapid and intense assistance for the development of rural small-scale fish farming in the Lake Basin Region.
In the course of GOK/BSF/UNDP/FAO Projects KEN/80/006 and KEN/86/027: “Development of Small-scale Fish Farming in the Lake Basin Area”, executed from 1985–1994 by FAO and LBDA, fish culture had been introduced in the rural zones in order to supplement protein deficiency in the area.
During the implementation of these projects thousands of farmers constructed ponds which were supplied with fingerlings from seven fry production centres (EPC's) and from several private fingerling producers in the area. First trials with formulated feeds were promising. The project also introduced clarias (catfish) rearing as a more profitable activity. However, after ten years of assistance, fish farming seems to be only partially established in Western Kenya.
Before a decision was taken on the financing of a third and last phase in order to ensure the viability and the sustainability of the action, a Technical Review Mission was mandated to evaluate the past activities and formulate if necessary a new document for a third phase. This was carried out in 1995. Among its conclusions was: most of the fish farmers appear to be dependant on external assistance, particularly from the project/LBDA. However, a few fish farmers were not only growing fish as protein source, but were beginning to show interest in profits and increased income.
The Belgian Survival Fund (BSF) considered that the project was not yet sustainable enough and therefore a last final intervention should be made in order to attain its objectives. Fish culture has to be successfully introduced as a rural economic-activity, with a critical mass of well-trained advanced (commercial) fish farmers, who could provide a reservoir of skills and services to fellow small-scale grass-root fish farmers (The project's real target) so that sustainability might be ensured even without major continual institutional/governmental assistance and inputs.
After the completion of project KEN/86/027, the Government of Kenya requested assistance from FAO's Technical Cooperation Programme and the project TCP/KEN/4551 “Support to Small Scale Rural Aquaculture in Western Kenya” was approved by FAO in February 1995 to further support the initiatives made, and to reinforce progress towards sustainability of rural fish culture production whilst a Third Phase Project was being formulated. This was initiated in April 1995 for a period of 9 months, subsequently extended to 12 TCP assistance months (July 96) with another extension recommanded by the consultant.
Under the overall supervision of the Chief, Fisheries Operations Service (TCO4), and in direct collaboration with the FAO Representative in Kenya, as well as the National Project Coordinator and the relevent national officers concerned, the consultant was expected to:
Revise the draft project document G24359 (GCP/KEN/060/BEL) taking into consideration the conclusions and recommandations of Mr Leendertse (consultant Socio-economist) so as to give particular attention to the likely socio-economic impacts on the ultimate beneficiaries - the grass-roots small-scale fish-farmers;
Discuss with the Scientific Adviser of the Belgian Embassy in Nairobi, the overall principles of Belgian Survival Fund assistance in the target area of Western Kenya, and specifically the existing and expected additional socio-economic benefits concerning the ultimate target group - the grass-roots fish-farmers, and incorporate his advice in the revised project document;
Ensure that the programme developed by Mr. Leendertse for assembly by national experts of existing base-line socio-economic data and information is carried out within 2 month and check that the routine monitoring of the main parameters over the next 3 years is well established;
Provide technical advice as required on the implementation of the remaining/ongoing outputs/activities as per workplan/project document.
At the end of his assignment, together with the National Project Coordinator, draft a mission report summarising his observations, conclusions and recommendations and submit them, together with the revised Project Document GCP/KEN/060/BEL to the Chief, TCO4 with a copy for the FAO Representative.
Duty station: Kisumu, Kenya (with 10 days briefing in Rome)
Languages: English (swahili and other local languages desirable but not essential)
Duration: 2 months (May-June 1996)
| Arrival | Departure | |
|---|---|---|
| Brussels | ------- | 12.06.96 |
| Rome | 12.06.96 | 27.06.96 |
| Nairobi | 28.06.96 | 29.06.96 |
| Kisumu | 29.06.96 | 23.07.96 |
| Nairobi | 23.07.96 | 27.07.96 |
| Kisumu | 27.07.96 | 04.08.96 |
| Nairobi | 04.08.96 | 06.08.96 |
| Rome | 07.08.96 | 09.08.96 |
| Brussels | 09.08.96 | ----------- |
The Consultant records his sincere thanks for all the assistance and kind arrangements graciously accorded by the Belgian BSF Representatives in Brussels, Rome and Nairobi. The consultant also expresses his profound appreciation to: the Permanent Secretary, LBDA Managing Director and the whole LBDA staff for their beneficial discussions and co-operation as well as to the personnel of the project in LBDA and DOF, to staff FAOR and UNDP offices in Nairobi. Finally the Consultant acknowledges the HQ staff, who provided enthusiastic and helpfull collaboration and assistance during that initial in-depth revision of the draft project document.
