The Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI), in collaboration with the Migori County government and We!Hub Victoria Limited, has established a fish and sardine drying and preservation facility in Muhurubay.
The facility aims to support the local fishing community, which has been experiencing significant post-harvest losses. The solar cooling and drying machine will serve Muhurubay and its surrounding areas.
During the launch of the machine, Lucas Mosenda, the Migori County Executive Committee member for the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries Management, stated that fishermen are losing 15-20 percent of their catch due to these losses. He emphasized that the machine installed by KIRDI would provide much-needed relief to fisherfolk who have struggled to preserve and dry their catch.
Linus Kosambo, a researcher at KIRDI, noted that the machine has been tested at one of their sites in coastal Kenya and has proven to be effective. He explained that the solar-powered machine can dry and preserve fish, helping to improve the quality of the fish and allowing fisherfolk to access better markets for their catch.
KIRDI Chairperson Eng. Peter Korinko echoed these sentiments, stressing the need to implement similar projects in other counties bordering Lake Victoria.
