Boost for fish farmers as feeds manufacturer opens new plant
Fisheries PS, Prof Micheni Ntiba, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Netherlands, H.E Frans Makken and Wouter van Vliet, the managing director, Larive International, among others are taken on a tour of the new Unga Farm Care (EA) Ltd Extruded Fish Feed Production plant in Industrial Area, Nairobi. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- The plant was established following Sh225 million sponsorship from the Dutch government and is designed to produce high quality floating fish feeds.
- Dutch ambassador Frans Makken said the embassy is committed to enhancing food security by encouraging use of conservation agriculture and cooperation between Kenya and Dutch businesses.
- The firm will manufacture floating pellets from starter to finisher feeds based on the lifecycle of tilapia, with the manufacture of catfish feed to commence later.
Fish farmers will now have more options in the market after Unga Holdings Ltd with various partners launched a new processing plant.
The company, together with FoodTechAfrica and Dutch companies Nutreco/Skretting, Ottevanger Milling Engineers, Almex Extrusion Techniques, Lattice Consulting and Larive International, launched the Unga FarmCare (EA) Ltd Extruded Fish Feed Production plant in Nairobi on Thursday.
The plant was established following Sh225 million sponsorship from the Dutch government and is designed to produce high quality floating fish feeds.
The extruded pellets will be manufactured and sized to offer the best in nutritional value.
Unga Holdings Limited chairperson Isabella Ochola Wilson said the facility will help boost fish production among small farmers keeping fish in ponds as well as those using cages.
Wouter van Vliet, the managing director, Larive International, and also the coordinator of FoodTechAfrica, said there is need to eliminate the strain on lake fish by growing pond fish farming.
“The solution lies in farming fish instead of ‘hunting’ for it in the wild.”
COMMITED TO ENHANCING FOOD SECURITY
Dutch ambassador Frans Makken said the embassy is committed to enhancing food security by encouraging use of conservation agriculture and cooperation between Kenya and Dutch businesses.
“Innovation is key in creating a sector that can constantly adapt to the market opportunities while taking into account effects of climate change,” he stated.
Prof Micheni Ntiba, Fisheries PS, in a speech read on behalf of Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett, asked county governments to help in sustaining aquaculture and encourage production of crops such as soya, sunflower and cotton among others to sustain the fish feed industry.
The firm will manufacture floating pellets from starter to finisher feeds based on the lifecycle of tilapia, with the manufacture of catfish feed to commence later.
