Hooked on Aqua Shops: New films and RIUradio coverage of fish farming supply shops in western Kenya
18 April 2011

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There are now six Aqua Shops operating in Western Kenya. It is anticipated that each shop will serve as a one-stop shop for inputs and advice for around one hundred fish farmers. RIU took the opportunity to catch up with the Aqua Shops team to see how this franchised-based programme is progressing.

At the beginning of March 2011, RIUtv meets... Susan Otieno was filmed. Susan explains how Aqua Shops can be scaled up in the future - to make advice and inputs more widely available. In her assessment of the market conditions in Kenya she notes that 29,500 ponds have been constructed in 160 districts, as part of the government's economic stimulus package. This market alone needs a considerable inputs supply infrastructure. Looking further afield, Susan sees the potential for a network of Aqua Shops across East Africa and countries like Ghana where fish farming is becoming commonplace.

Over the next couple of years Susan believes that Aqua Shops can provide ready access to fish farm inputs. At the same time, other aspects of the value chain, from the hatchery to the table, will be rationalised and developed.

In this interview she also talks about the recent successful Aqua Shop launch, which attracted considerable interest including attendance by two Kenyan Government ministers. The launch was covered by RIUradio; our reporter, Sawa Pius, managed to speak with Aqua Shops guest of honour, Dr Paul Otuoma, Kenya's former Minister of Fisheries Development, who has been at the forefront of developing the fish farming sector.

Dr Otuoma talked about the importance of the Aqua Shops to the government's economic stimulus package, which resulted in thousands of fish ponds being constructed. He said:

"I feel very much encouraged to say that this programme is really taking off because it must be self-sustaining. People must be able to make money from it. People must be able to be productive, other than people saying, "Where do I get a net? Where do I get a liner? Where do I get feed?" Even oxygen, if you are selling fingerlings. So, from these Aqua Shops they will be able to get all these kinds of inputs that are required for aquaculture.

In each area where the Aqua Shops are located around 100 fish farmers were trained and linked to the franchisee. These numbers will increase as the franchisees market themselves through the provision of extension services and products."

RIU news was also delighted to learn that Victor Motari and Professor Charles Ngugi of Kenyatta University have posted a film about Aqua Shops on YouTube. This film was shot in early March 2011, just as the rains were starting to fill the ponds, so this was a critical time for the Aqua Shops.

In the film Saul Odhiambo, who owns the Aqua Shop in Funyula, Busia District, Western Kenya, talks about his passion for fish farming.

Spencer Otieno Ogot from Ahero, Nyando District, Nyanza Province, explains how valuable it is that his shop is on a busy highway, giving a good advertisement. He talks about his role in supplying nets and feed in particular and his arrangement to get locally produced fingerlings. Spencer also explains how he provides information on both catfish and tilapia production.

The third Aqua Shop owner is Raphael Henry Owaka Ware who is interview by the District Fisheries Officer for Nyanda District, Anne Kwamboka Mokora. Raphael, like the other Aqua Shop owners, serves his local cluster ponds - but he explains that the local fish farmers often lack the financial resources they need to build up their businesses. Despite this he believes that fish farming offers a very good way to improve the livelihoods of people in Western Kenya. In looking to the future he thinks that Aqua Shops will be successful if they can find more value-added products and services. Like Spencer, he is keen to move to a position where he is able to produce fingerlings himself to safeguard the supply. Raphael also states one of the basic tenets of good retailing: Aqua Shops require timely supply of all inputs.

Earlier this year Victor attended a video training day designed for the Aqua Shop partners led by RIUtv's Nik Wood. It is great to see that the training has been put to such great effect.

Duncan Sones of the RIU Communications Team said:

"We have two new films and a radio feature on Aqua Shops. With the support from our colleagues at SARNISSA African Aquaculture Network [www.sarnissa.org] this information is being disseminated to over 1,700 aquaculture specialists worldwide. It is really encouraging to see how this information on fish farming is being disseminated to so widely.

Aqua Shops was one of the last pieces of RIU investment to be put in place so it is important that we gather as much information as we can during the period to June 2011. There are clearly some challenges for the Aqua Shops to overcome but there is clearly a vast potential market in Western Kenya with 29,500 new ponds."

Images from Namboboto Agrovet and Aqua Shop