What began quietly in the rolling hills of Vihiga County has grown into one of the region’s most transformative agricultural success stories—a journey reshaping rural livelihoods, empowering youth, strengthening schools, and redefining local food systems.
When 450 farmers joined the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD)-funded Advancing Resilient Nutrition-Sensitive Aquaculture (ARNSA) Project, few imagined the scale of change that would follow.
Implemented through the Aquaculture Business Development Programme (ABDP) in partnership with IFAD and the Vihiga County Government, the project aimed to boost aquaculture, strengthen nutrition, and create sustainable income opportunities.
For many, the journey began on bare land. The first task was pond construction—digging, shaping, and reinforcing water bodies under the guidance of fisheries technical officers. Workshops and demonstrations taught farmers not just how to dig ponds but why proper structure matters for water retention, fish health, and profitability.
Training sessions reached all 22 wards, covering topics from feeding fingerlings to monitoring pond pH and general pond care. Farmers eagerly absorbed knowledge, often staying after sessions to ask questions or request follow-up demonstrations. Nets were distributed to protect fish from predators, a measure many credited for reducing losses significantly. The delivery of 1,000 fingerlings to each farmer marked a milestone—the first step toward building sustainable fish stocks.
Technical officers then moved ward to ward, teaching farmers to install support poles and protective netting. In Gisambai Ward, the training drew crowds of farmers and local leaders. Every pole driven and knot tied signaled a step toward secure, productive aquaculture.
A high-level delegation from the Government of Kenya, IFAD, and ABDP, led by IFAD Country Program Coordinator Ronald Ajengo, visited Vihiga to assess progress. Their verdict: the county was on track, embracing the project with commitment, creativity, and collaboration.
Support continued with the delivery of 3,600 bags of fish feed, with each farmer receiving eight bags—a lifeline ensuring fingerlings grew into market-ready fish. The project also introduced smart fish kiosks to boost local consumption and market access, one managed by youth in Kaimosi and another by a women’s group in Chavakali.
Vihiga County Governor Dr. Wilber Khasilwa Ottichilo toured several ARNSA sites, including school compounds, to witness innovations such as the Integrated Poultry–Fish–Vegetables Aquaculture System. Poultry waste fertilizes ponds, while nutrient-rich pond water irrigates vegetables—a system where nothing is wasted. “It is inspiring to see such innovation in schools. This is the future of sustainable food production,” the governor said.
A delegation from the ABDP steering committee, led by Ministry of Interior and Coordination’s Mr. Liyayi Magotsi, inspected ARNSA sites. In six months, Vihiga achieved integrated fish farming systems, advanced aquaponics units, skilled farmers, smart kiosks, and local production of black soldier fly larvae for fish feed. Farmers contributed labor, materials, and land, demonstrating genuine local ownership. Vihiga is now well positioned for the anticipated second phase of the project.
The harvest has begun, bringing mature fish to nets and households, marking first aquaculture incomes. For schools, it improves nutrition and teaches students the science and business of integrated agriculture. The model—fish, poultry, vegetables working in symbiosis—produces diverse food sources while conserving water and reducing waste.
The pilot ARNSA project, also implemented in Nyeri and Migori, proves smallholder farmers can thrive with the right combination of skills, technology, and support. In Vihiga, scattered ponds have blossomed into a coordinated, thriving aquaculture ecosystem, offering new income streams, youth skills, school learning opportunities, and a blueprint for sustainable food production.
Vihiga today tells a story of resilience, partnership, and transformation—one fish pond at a time.
By Rose Wasike
