The Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) has developed new formulations to lower the cost of fish feed in the country.
The move targets to reduce overreliance on sardine (omena) which over the years has been the key ingredient in manufacturing the feeds.
Stocks of Omena which is a local delicacy have dropped significantly in Lake Victoria prompting researchers to explore other fish nutrition alternatives.
KMFRI Head of Aquaculture Division Dr Jonathan Munguti said omena was no longer reliable as the main fish feed formulation.
“We embarked on research to come up with alternative fish feed formulations to reduce pressure on omena which is a local delicacy,” he said.
The research, he said, has revealed that insect based feeds were equally nutritious and a worthy alternative to omena.
Black Soldier Fly larvae, he said has been identified as an alternative to omena adding that if fully exploited it will go a long way in lowering the cost of fish feeds in the country.
The fly, he explained, thrived in a variety of substrates including cow dung, kitchen waste, brewers waste, chicken droppings making it cheap to grow anywhere in the country.
Other alternatives identified by the research body, he said include soya, maize, rice and wheat bran.
Dr Munguti expressed optimism that the research breakthrough will lower the cost of feed and in turn lure more farmers into aquaculture.
“The cost of feed remains the biggest challenge to fish farmers across the globe. This calls for research and concerted efforts to reduce the burden on farmers,” he said.
Addressing the media during the 2nd Aquatic Resources and Blue Economy Conference in Kisumu, Munguti called for more research on alternative fish diet ingredients to further lower the cost of production.
KMFRI, he said, will partner with other organisations to train farmers on the new technologies to cushion them against the high costs of feeds.
