Mr. Abdu Godana Dae
CEC – Fisheries, livestock and cooperative development.
VISION:
An innovative, commercially oriented and modern fisheries, livestock and co-operative development sector.
MISSION
To bring socio-economic development to the people of Lamu through competitive Fisheries, Livestock and Co-operative sector that will employ innovative and modern methods, techniques and technologies to improve productivity. Fishing is the main economic activity for the residents of the Island. The fishing ground cover 3100 km2 of territorial market water surface extending from Dareslaam in Kiunga to Ras Teweni fresh water.Fishing is also carried out in the main land.Under fish pond programmes and ox-bow lakes and water masses along the Tana River delta.There are rich fish species in the county,among them 5 turtle species,150 reed fish species, 6 dolphine species and 183 species of hard coral fish.There are 40 fishing grounds that produce 1500 metric tones annually. This production is however very low considering the huge potential.This is caused by poor fishing equipment.Short fishing is also carried out around the tourist hotels of Kisangundi,Manda and Shella Islands.
Introduction/Background
75 % of communities in lamu depend either Directly or indirectly in fishing . Therefore the fishing industry is the major economic back bone in the county. The annual fish production for the county is estimated as 2500MT valued at 180million to the fisher The Estimated potential of the fish industry is 30,000 MT valued at 6 Billion within a coastline of 144km and 200 nautical miles EEZ The fish industry employs approximately 10,000 fisher folk (directly or indirectly) there fore contributing greatly to the county’s GDP Combined pressure on mangrove and fishery resource therefore presents a challenge to local fishing community’s food security. Lamu Enjoys the greatest Mangrove cover in the coast of Kenya ( 75%) Lamu therefore benefits a lot from mangrove services (pollution control, fish breeding grounds.e.t.c) The lamu islands are vastly surrounded by heavy thickets of mangrove which is utilized for building and onshore fishing save for a few traditional keepers who produce very little honey Another key livelihood is livestock production especially bee keeping and local poultry production (kuchi) The estimated annual production for honey 100 MT value at ksh 6M. Wax 10 MT valued at ksh 2M Eggs 5000 valued at ksh 500,000 However the full potential of these livelihoods have not been tapped.
Challenges:
-
- Overfishing(Inshore)
- Destructive fishing methods
- Limited livelihood opportunities for the coastal communities.
- Low capacity of the communities to tap the potential of the Livelihood
Problem statement
- Degraded fisheries due to corroded corals and destructed fish breeding ground as a result of Mangrove over exploitation for wood and non – wood products. This overbuilt pressure on the fisheries is due to lack of alternative livelihoods for the fishing communities and inability to harness offshore fisheries. General objective The county is in the process of creating conducive and enabling environment for socio-economic development by embracing modern livestock husbandry and creating livestock infrastructure such as auction yard, crushes, dips and disease free zone to support the livestock sub-sector. With respect to the fisheries sub-sector, modern fishing gears, landing sites and harbors will be provided. Similarly, existing and dormant co-operatives are being revived to harness savings and financial facilities and develop markets for the sector’s output and products.
Achievements: Fisheries Sub Sector
• 115 engines have been distributed to deserving fishermen.
• Introduction of Fishing gear subsidy program
• Construction of new modern fish markets at Rasini and Kiunga
• Construction of a 10-ton ice plant at Kizingitini
• Installation of 10 ton containerized cold storage facility at Mokowe
• Fish landing site improvement through the construction of fish banda at Ishakani
• Solar enabled fish storage freezers project at Kiwayuu island
LIVESTOCK AND VETERINARY SUB – SECTOR
INTRODUCTION/OVERVIEW
Livestock in Lamu County has a great untapped potential in the following areas: Beef cattle production; Dairy production; Indigenous Chicken production; Meat Goats’ production and honey production.
When this potential is tapped it will increase the sub-sector contribution to the county GDP to more than 40% of all agriculture sector production. This will go along with job creation; increased rural household income and reduce poverty in the county.
There are increased cases of livestock diseases in the County with the main ones being Trypanosomiasis and Anaplasmosis, tick borne diseases like pneumonia and Coccidiosis which affects animal productivity. The continuous influx of livestock from neighboring pasture has adversely affected the pasture and watery point for the livestock.
The department is grossly understaffed with a total of 9 technical staff and 1 support staff for the livestock production section and 13 technical and 2 drivers in the veterinary section.
Livestock Population
There was an estimated zebu cattle population of 173,794 heads, 8549 dairy cattle, 136,597 H/goats, 24576 H/sheep and 310,760 chickens. Donkeys numbered 5425 heads. The number of hives was estimated at 7557 hives. Rabbits numbered 4100.
Livestock Products
The County enjoys diverse livestock products which include; milk, meat, eggs and honey but the value of these products tends to fluctuate as a result of poor quality of products caused by poor handling and storage facilities. The increased dominance by middlemen means livestock producers receives very little income of their produce.
An estimated total of 3,654,726 liters of milk valued at Ksh.146, 189,040; 1,860,660 eggs valued at Ksh. 18,606,600 and 24,000kg of honey valued at Ksh. 12,000,000.00 Was produced.
Slaughter figures yielded 382.1MT of beef, 98.4MT of Chevon, and 7.944MT of mutton. The value of all the meat was Ksh. 146,533,200.00. Poultry (local & broiler chicken) meat produced from 57,108 birds and was valued at Ksh. 33,041,800.
The department is at an advanced stage in the domestication of the National Livestock Policy by developing strategies and implementation framework. Once ratified by the county assembly it will provide a roadmap for livestock production based interventions in the county.
Since the inception of the county government the following development projects have been accomplished:-
- Construction of the livestock development office in Faza;
- Construction of a hay ban for pasture conservation;
- Construction of honey processing plant at Hindi;
- Rehabilitation of the Amu livestock office;
- Establishment of the Nagele livestock market at Witu ward;
- Ploughing and reseeding of the 5 acre plot at Witu farm;
- Purchased five Sahiwal cattle for distribution at Kizingitini and Tchundwa to initiate a upgrading program.
- Purchased AI Kits, Semen, liquid nitrogen and motorcycle and capacity build veterinary staffs to provide AI services;
- On poultry improvement, the department has purchased an incubator for demonstration and training on incubation and brooding management;
- Construction of the Mpeketoni and Amu poultry sale yards.
The county government has facilitated animal disease control by purchasing livestock vaccines and drugs and facilitated the vaccination and treatment campaigns against the endemic diseases of major economic importance within the county. To enhance livestock health Animal health and dip committees were formed and trained at Amu, Koreni, MOA, and Witu dips. The slaughter figures have increased gradually as a result of improved veterinary services hence increased departmental revenue with the sub-sector recording a total of Kshs. 1,357,635.00
Cooperatives Sub sector
INTRODUCTION/OVERVIEW
The cooperative sector plays a key role in stimulating development and community social progress. The County of Lamu has initiated the process of revitalizing the cooperative sector through offering extension services, trainings and audits of the existing and moribund cooperatives in Lamu. There are 40 cooperatives established in Lamu over time. However, only 25 are active and another 15 being semi dormant. The department of fisheries and livestock has 4 active cooperatives out of 25 mentioned above, namely;
- Witu Livestock cooperative society
- Kizingitini United Fishers Cooperative
- Kizingitini Fishers Cooperative
- Rasini Fishers Cooperative
PARTNERS
- Agriculture sector development support programme (ASDSP)
- Regional Pastoral Livelihood Resilience Project (RPLRP
- Cotton Board of Kenya