KLM from Nairobi to Amsterdam, may 10th 02:00 hour: Amazed by my experiences I ‘m writing this blog during my flight back home.

Yesterday I traveled together with our project partner dr. Patricia Muendo back to Nairobi for my return-flight. We paused at the farm of one of the participants of the workshop Labour Marked Needs Assessment at the South Eastern Kenyan University near Kitui, Kenya.

              Mr. Tony Ndetto owner of the Kamuthanga Farm, . He, originally is a marketer, saw a lot of opportunities for the fish market sector and took the initiative to design a total new aquaculture farm. He and his team of practical experts were not afraid to try out state of the art methods an techniques, creating an aquaculture farm  with the RASS-system and basins in stead of ponds.

For readers of this blog not familiar with aquaculture, this is quite out of the ordinary in Kenya. The RASS system is making use of water recycling, filtering and oxygenation. Kamuthanga Farm now is able to re-use 80% of the water, meaning a water use of 20% only, compared to the traditional pond methods now commonly in use in inland Kenya.  Especially for arid and semi arid conditions this is a good achievement for the sustainable use of water resources. Finaly the effluent water is used for droplet irrigation on the fruit and vegetable producing units of Kamathanga farm.

What really struck me is that almost all necessary materials are produced on site but not only for their own purpose, also the local community of farmers are helped out, some examples:

The production of concrete to build the basins and the water system  is done on site. In fact they produce more concrete parts than necessary for their own use, for instance concrete tubes and poles for fences, and now enabling them to supply the local community.                A production unit for helminths is mastered by another very skillful employee. The worms are used as an additional protein source to the commercial fish feed. The soil and dung used for this worm breeding purpose, originates from the neighbouring farmers, thus creating a nice sustainable dried compost that can be used again as fertilizer on the fields.

The fruit and vegetable farm , also run by a professional farm manager, also is the hatchery for seedlings of crops for the local community.

Tony has employed staff that has a proper attitude, skills and  knowledge of aquaculture and farming. These folks are manning a hatchery, producing the Tilapia fingerlings for own production. The hatchery system is clean, clever designed  and making innovative use of simple low investment technological solutions. The experience, knowledge and methodology gained can be used to help other farmers to set up low investment solutions of their own. To achieve this Tony Ndetto offered to the project and SEKU university his cooperation in return for apprenticeships and applied research to be performed on his farm.

We discussed during lunch the vision Tony has for  the future of Kamuthanga Farm. His idea is really matching the approach of one of my Dutch clients the trout farm, ‘t Smallert in Emst the Netherlands.

Here the concept of Hatchery and  Fish Farm, is combined with: a family park annex playground, where fathers can do trout fishing in ponds, a demonstration fish farm, a small restaurant, a party centre and a candle making factory. For more information go to the website of  ‘t Smallert.

             Tony additionally has plans to add also a swimming pool and a Family hotel aiming to create the “(fish) Farm Experience” for local and international tourists.

What gives me a good feeling for the future and the realization of the plans is that the Farm is cooperating with the Dutch company Syngenta. For me it means that idealism and idea’s are going hand in hand with a good commercial understanding. As I always think while working on our projects in Kenya: “the shools and universities should deliver entrepreneurs with idea’s and the good attitude to take initiatives and create a strong local economy with local food supply thus creating food security, beside scientists that can find employment at Government (financed) organisations such as universities research and NGO’s.

Meeting Tony made me enthusiast and believe in future Kenyan entrepreneurs creating employment for the new generation of graduates. Graduates that are better skilled to fulfill  the labour market demands.

Victor Volkers senior consultant Q-Point