Sustainable mariculture creates jobs for young people in Kenya

Over the past 13 years, young members of the Umoja Self-help Group have been creating their own employment in Kilifi County, Kenya. Now successful marine fish farmers, the group is joining forces with Farm Africa to scale up their operation.

The Umoja Self-help Group, comprising young women and men from Kibokoni, Kilifi County, Kenya, has been actively involved in mariculture for the past 13 years. Established in 2011, the group primarily engages in the farming of milkfish, prawns and crabs.

With the help of several training sessions, the group successfully established fish farming ponds. “At the start, we received training from various organisations, including lecturers from Pwani University. Afterward, we were able to establish eight ponds, each measuring 30 by 40 metres, and began farming milkfish, prawns and marine tilapia, as well as crabs within the mangroves,” says Jabiri.

The group has collaborated with and received support from several organisations, including the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KEMFRI).

Last year, they began working with Farm Africa under the Youth in Sustainable Aquaculture (YISA) programme. Their plan is to develop more skills and expertise in mariculture, which will enable them to increase the quantity and quality of fish they produce, and create more sustainable jobs for young people.

Santa Lozy, a member of Umoja Self-help Group recording the water pH during a mariculture training session. Photo: Farm Africa / Maurice Goga.

“Through their partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, Farm Africa invited us to join the YISA programme to upscale our efforts in the mariculture sector,” notes Jabiri.

He hopes the programme will help address some of the challenges they face, particularly those impacting the growth of marine species.

“My expectation from the programme is to close gaps in the mariculture value chain, such as improving fish farming techniques, adding value and enhancing coordination with other stakeholders to create more employment opportunities for young women and men in Kilifi County.”

Young people taking part in mariculture technical training as part of the YISA programme. Photo: Farm Africa / Maurice Goga.

Creating job opportunities for young women and men

The Umoja Self-help Group has already successfully created employment opportunities for 28 young women and men, and plans to expand further through participation in the YISA programme.

“It is clear that the Mastercard Foundation, in collaboration with Farm Africa and its consortium partners, is committed to creating more job opportunities for young people. The mariculture sector offers various job opportunities, including jobs for fishermen, fish farmers, fishmongers, and fish feed millers. The programme value chains will provide even more opportunities for young people in Kilifi County,” shares Jabiri.

He adds that the group has received mariculture technical training and business development skills through the YISA programme. They have applied this knowledge to renovate two ponds, each with a capacity of 1,000m³, now stocked with marine tilapia.

Additionally, the YISA programme uses their site as a training venue, enabling the group to generate revenue. This income has been used to repair crab cages, further enhancing their mariculture operations.

As part of its commitment to women’s empowerment, the programme has also supported three young women from the group, who, after benefiting from the business development training, have launched their own fishmonger businesses in Kibaoni.

About the YISA programme

The Youth in Sustainable Aquaculture (YISA) programme is a five-year programme launched in 2023 that will run until 2028, implemented in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and partners including Farm Africa, Echo Network Africa Foundation, Lattice, Aquarech, Ramogi Institute of Advanced Technology (RIAT), Hydro Victoria, and Livingwood Consultant Ltd, with the goal of creating 150,000 inclusive, meaningful, and dignified jobs—105,000 for women, 45,000 for men, and 8,000 for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs)—across Kenya’s counties of Kisumu, Homa Bay, Siaya, Kakamega, Busia, and Kilifi.

Learn more about the YISA programme.

Learn more about Farm Africa’s expertise in fish farming.

Learn more about how Farm Africa boosts youth employment.