How two ponds built a successful fish enterprise

When Ann Akinyi started Apondo Fish Farm (AFF) in Ahero, Kisumu County, in 2017, she did not envision that the two fish ponds would grow into a thriving aquaculture enterprise that would later supply up to three million fish fingerlings to farmers in 15 counties.

The farm has not only enabled others to kick-start their dreams, but it has also trained more than 1,500 farmers in fish husbandry, pond management and commercial aquaculture, helping them acquire the skills needed to improve production and make fish farming a profitable business.

Despite the journey being a success, Akinyi confesses it was not without challenges and mistakes, but grew through experimentation, investment and lessons learned from setbacks that threatened to derail the venture in its early days.

The farm was established after long rains in April 2017, when they constructed two earthen ponds and stocked them with fish. However, the ponds dried up during the subsequent dry season, resulting in the loss of the entire stock.

Akinyi says the drying of the ponds was exacerbated by the area's black cotton soil, which holds water during the rainy season but develops deep cracks during prolonged dry spells, making it difficult to maintain suitable conditions for fish production.

“The first experience was challenging, but it taught us that we had to adapt our production systems to the conditions we were operating in rather than give up on the venture,” Akinyi recalls.

Determined to continue, Akinyi invested in a lined pond in 2018 and constructed another in 2019. However, limited space and the high cost of maintaining fish production prompted her to reconsider the business model.

The farm subsequently shifted its focus to fingerling production, a decision that transformed it from a small fish-growing venture into a specialised supplier of fish seed to farmers.

Today, AFF operates six ponds alongside raised pond systems and has invested in improved broodstock to enhance the quality of its fingerlings.

The farm currently produces approximately 80,000 tilapia fingerlings a month and is upgrading its facilities, with plans to increase production capacity fourfold by March 2027.

“We want to grow our production capacity while maintaining the quality of the seed we supply,” Akinyi says.

“For us, expansion is not simply about producing more fingerlings. It is about ensuring farmers receive healthy and reliable seed that gives them a strong start.”

AFF is an authenticated hatchery recognised by the Kenya Fisheries Service for producing Nile perch, tilapia and catfish fingerlings. It sources its tilapia broodstock from the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute's Sagana station.

According to Akinyi, the quality of fingerlings has a direct bearing on fish survival, growth rates and the eventual profitability of a fish farming enterprise.

“Quality seed is the foundation of a successful fish-farming enterprise. If a farmer starts with poor-quality fingerlings, it becomes difficult to achieve good survival, growth and profitability,” she says.

Beyond supplying fingerlings, AFF has expanded its extension services to equip farmers with practical skills for managing their fish farming enterprises.

Its training programme covers pond establishment, stocking densities, feeding, water quality management, harvesting and general farm management. The farm also offers consultancy services, including assessments of poorly performing ponds and recommendations for improving productivity.

Akinyi says the farm's experience has shown that access to quality fingerlings alone is not enough to guarantee success. Farmers must also understand how to prepare their ponds, manage feeding, maintain good water quality, prevent diseases and identify profitable markets.

“Farmers do not only need fingerlings. They need to know what to do before stocking, how to manage the fish after stocking and how to take the fish to a market profitably,” she says.

The combination of quality fish seed and practical training is helping farmers address some of the challenges that have limited the growth of aquaculture in Kenya.

In Bungoma County, aquaculture farmer Josphant Indimuli says access to quality fingerlings and practical training is essential for improving fish survival, controlling production costs and increasing returns.

“Fish farming can be a profitable venture, but success depends on access to quality fingerlings and proper management practices. We now have greater confidence to expand production and turn fish farming into a reliable source of income,” Indimuli says.

In neighbouring Trans Nzoia County, aquaculture farmer Josephine Akothe believes reliable fish seed and technical support can encourage more small-scale farmers, particularly women and young people, to venture into commercial fish production.

“Many farmers are interested in fish farming but lack the technical knowledge and reliable fingerlings needed to succeed. With proper training and support, we can improve production, earn better incomes and create employment opportunities,” Akothe says.

Their experiences highlight the importance of combining reliable inputs with practical knowledge to help farmers build sustainable aquaculture enterprises.

To meet growing demand for fish fingerlings and support further expansion, AFF is developing a second farm dedicated to catfish production. The planned facility will comprise four lined ponds, four earthen ponds and two large reservoirs. The farm intends to stock approximately 20,000 catfish fingerlings in the reservoirs and raise them to market size.

The investment is expected to strengthen the enterprise's catfish production capacity while broadening its role in the aquaculture value chain.