| dc.description.abstract | This article reviews critical aspects of the the aquaquafeed value chain in the Kenyan aquaculture sector. Aquaculture afeed value chain in the Kenyan aquaculture sector. Aquaculture production in Kenya has grown steadily in recent years, to more than 18,000 tons in 2019. Due to the growing production in Kenya has grown steadily in recent years, to more than 18,000 tons in 2019. Due to the growing demand for fish and fish products, there has been a gradual shift from extensive todemand for fish and fish products, there has been a gradual shift from extensive to semisemi--intensive to moderately intensive to moderately intensive aquaculture systems, leading to an increased intensive aquaculture systems, leading to an increased demand for high quality commercial fish feeds. The demand for high quality commercial fish feeds. The current annual demand for fish feed in Kenya is estimated at current annual demand for fish feed in Kenya is estimated at 34,00034,000 tons. It is the lack of sufficient and tons. It is the lack of sufficient and highhigh--quality local fish feed production that has created quality local fish feed production that has created a a market for fish feed importers, which is currently market for fish feed importers, which is currently estimated at estimated at 7,0007,000 tons annually. However, the imported fish feed is expensive for most fish farmers, leaditons annually. However, the imported fish feed is expensive for most fish farmers, leading to ng to low production. Local fish feed production through homelow production. Local fish feed production through home--based formulation should be driven by fish farmers to based formulation should be driven by fish farmers to contain the rising cost of feeds.contain the rising cost of feeds. Most cottage feed manufacturers produce mash, crumbles or sinking pellets Most cottage feed manufacturers produce mash, crumbles or sinking pellets because they lack extruder for mbecause they lack extruder for making floating pellets, hence the need for qaking floating pellets, hence the need for quality control in the aquauality control in the aqua--feed sector. feed sector. Fish feed producers are weakly covered by financial services providers, hence the inability to compete Fish feed producers are weakly covered by financial services providers, hence the inability to compete effectively with other value chains. The paper outlines five key actoeffectively with other value chains. The paper outlines five key actors in the aquars in the aqua--feed value chain from feed value chain from production to marketing. These include; raw material (ingredients) suppliers, feed manufacturers (feed production to marketing. These include; raw material (ingredients) suppliers, feed manufacturers (feed formulators), distributors/wholesalers, retailers, and customers who are fish farmers. We recommend formulators), distributors/wholesalers, retailers, and customers who are fish farmers. We recommend intensification intensification of local aquaof local aqua--feed production using locally available materials to reduce the importation. This will feed production using locally available materials to reduce the importation. This will ensure ensure the the long term economic and ecological sustainability of the aquaculture sector. There is long term economic and ecological sustainability of the aquaculture sector. There is a a need for need for favourable policies to lower importation rates ffavourable policies to lower importation rates for raw materials as a way of boosting the availability of additional or raw materials as a way of boosting the availability of additional feed resources and inputs. feed resources and inputs. | en_US |
