Abiud Ochieng'

26 January 2012

Fish prices have gone up in Western Kenya following dry weather that has reduced vegetable supply.

"In the last three months, there has been a decline in supply of Tilapia and Omena from Lake Victoria and with increased demand for fish, traders have adjusted prices upwards," said Mr Tom Guda, the chairman of the Beach Management Unit (BMU) for the region.Vegetables and fish compete for a place on the dinner table as accompaniment for key staples such as ugali, rice or chapati.

Before the dry weather, he said, the high cost of living had hurt demand for fish as consumers preferred vegetables.

"Fishermen should plant vegetables on their small farms along the lake shore in order to diversify their sources of income while at the same time, supplementing sources of food," said Mr Guda.

A report by the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) showed that in November 2011, Nile perch was the most expensive fish in all the Lake Victoria landing sites, selling at a mean of Sh219 per kg.

Nile perch also had the most stable prices, ranging between Sh210 to Sh228 per kg during the month, followed by Omena whose prices fluctuated between Sh101 to Sh149. Tilapia prices range between Sh177 to Sh213 a kilogramme.

Mr Peter Mireri, an environmentalist working with Friends of Lake Victoria, said the increase in fish prices was largely due to middlemen.

"If they see prices of vegetables going up, they also increase prices. The fish being sold in Kisumu at Sh400 was bought from fishermen at Sh100. It is greed," said Mr Mireri.

Muhurubay in Nyatike, Nyandiwa in Suba and Mfang'ano in Mbita are main sources of fish.

The fishermen sell to the middle men who supply far away markets, leaving very little fish for sale in nearby towns.

Mr Mireri said local fishermen should organize themselves in cooperative societies to achieve fair prices for their harvests.