Best Fish Farmer Competition - Empowering Aquaculture through Youth Engagement

Best Fish Farmer Competition - Empowering Aquaculture through Youth Engagement

Region: Kenya
Sector: Aquaculture
Duration: 2022-2023
Partners: Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nairobi, Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), Larive International, Aquaculture Academy, Lattice

The Best Farmer Competition 2022/2023, co-financed by the Dutch government and coordinated by Larive International and Lattice, is a transformative initiative aimed at empowering the aquaculture sector in Kenya. This project highlights the crucial role of youth engagement in promoting sustainable aquaculture practices and stimulating economic growth.

Project Background

The aquaculture sector in East Africa holds immense potential due to the growing demand for locally produced fish, driven by population growth and declining supply from wild catch. However, the sector faces challenges such as a lack of best practices, practical knowledge, technology, and quality inputs. To address these gaps, the Best Farmer Competition was launched to recognize and reward outstanding fish farmers while raising awareness of aquaculture's opportunities.

Interventions and Achievements

The competition focused on several key interventions:

• Youth Engagement: Encouraged young professionals to participate, providing them with business skills and mentorship opportunities.
• Capacity Building: Organized intensive training for finalists, enhancing their aquaculture practices and business acumen.
• Promotion and Awareness: Utilized the Aquaculture Academy's resources and mobile unit to reach fish farmers across the Lake Victoria basin.
• Partnerships: Engaged with counties around Lake Victoria to stimulate further sector development and collaboration with strategic partners.

The competition successfully attracted numerous participants, culminating in an award ceremony that recognized the top fish farmers. The initiative also promoted networking and community building through an online platform, fostering continuous learning and collaboration among participants.

 Swabrine Alouch, Analyst at Lattice

“By engaging youth in the aquaculture sector, we are not only addressing food security but also creating sustainable livelihoods for future generations.”

Lillian Marenya, Head of Programs at Lattice

“The Best Farmer Competition has demonstrated the transformative power of knowledge and skills in aquaculture, paving the way for a more sustainable and profitable industry.”

Impact

The Best Farmer Competition has significantly impacted the aquaculture sector by:

• Raising Awareness: Increased awareness of aquaculture opportunities among young professionals and the broader community.
• Building Capacity: Enhanced the skills and knowledge of participants, enabling them to adopt best practices and improve their productivity.
• Promoting Collaboration: Fostered partnerships between public and private sector stakeholders, contributing to the overall growth of the aquaculture value chain.
• Stimulating Economic Growth: By supporting aquaculture entrepreneurs, the project has contributed to economic development and job creation in the region.

Conclusion

The Best Farmer Competition 2022/2023 has been instrumental in promoting sustainable aquaculture practices and empowering the next generation of aquaculture entrepreneurs. Through targeted interventions and strategic partnerships, the initiative has created a ripple effect, enhancing the sector's capacity and driving economic growth in Kenya.