Kenya Aqua Shops project on the way to first six franchises
8 September 2010

RIU has supported FARM-Africa and partners to develop an Aqua Shop franchise model in Kenya under its Commissioned Work strand. This work strand is the most responsive of RIU's portfolio and it backs initiatives, often at a pilot scale, that can add valuable learning - in this case the development of a franchise model to support distribution of inputs for fish farming through one-stop Aqua Shops.

Ian Maudlin, Director of RIU explains:

"At a recent RIU team meeting one of our Africa Country Coordinators observed that 'where there is a bottleneck there is a business opportunity'. In many ways Aqua Shops demonstrates this concept: there is a persistent bottleneck in making available appropriate inputs to the aquaculture sector in Kenya. Recent pump-priming by the Kenya Government has led to the construction of large numbers of fishponds on small-scale farms in Western Kenya and these now need inputs and other support. The Aqua Shops appear to be the business opportunity to address this problem as they will be able to provide a full range of inputs for fish farmers, including fingerlings of fast-growing fish strains, feed and advice".

RIU is delighted to learn that the first six Aqua Shops will soon be ready for business.

In October 2009, the Kenyan fisheries minister, Paul Otuoma, unveiled a new initiative to expand fish farming in the country's Western Province. Aquaculture is poorly developed in Western Province although the region has a huge potential for rearing fish. Under the initiative, 24 constituencies in the province were earmarked to benefit from the government's fish farming plan and 4800 fish ponds were planned. This, the minister believes, will help create 50,000 jobs. Fish farming will also open up other opportunities for the province's residents, such as in fish feed production and rearing of fish fingerlings. The minister estimates that initially up to 16 million fish fingerlings will be required for the fish stimulus programme.