Interview Susan |
VicInAqua is a medium-scale focused research project that has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 689427.
11 partners from 7 European and African countries aims at developing an integrated approach for water management by providing an integral, sustainable, innovative, cost effective and robust solution for water sanitation combined with the demand for clean water in aquaculture and irrigation in the Lake Victoria basin.
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Talking to...

Ms. Susan Clare Adhiambo, Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (DALF) of Kisumu County, Kenya

Role in the VicInaqua project: Partner

Current position: Chief Fisheries Officer, in charge of Kisumu East Sub-county at the Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (DALF) of Kisumu County, Kenya

Expertise: aquaculture and fisheries; fresh water environment; environmental, socio-economic and health assessment, fish farming policy and regulation

Education: Bsc. Aquatic Sciences, Msc. Limnology

 

Ms. Susan Clare Adhiambo is part of the team of officers who implemented the Aquaculture National Programme in Kisumu, Kenya and supervised the construction and management of more than 600 ponds within the county. Having worked in the Lake Victoria region for the past eight years as a fisheries officer, Susan understands the dynamics of fisheries activities in the region including those intended to be addressed in VicInAqua. Susan also has experience in working in research, development and innovation projects with foreign countries such as Germany and Israel.

Could you describe DALF’s role in VicInAqua?

DALF brings in its long-term expertise in aquaculture and fisheries issues in Kenya and the Lake Victoria Basin (LVB). As it is hosting the pilot site, DALF will also have an important role in coordinating all parties involved in its construction and management.

DALF has been involved in further national and international projects for aquaculture. What convinced you to participate in VicInAqua in particular?

We liked the innovative approach of VicInAqua which addresses in particular problems experienced in Kenya and the further Lake Victoria countries, Uganda and Tanzania. VicInAqua is not only about general technological and environmental progress, it is about proposing an African solution for efficient water reuse and waste water pollution control.

Have you been cooperating with organisations from Uganda and Tanzania before?

Yes, we participate in common organisations and programmes like the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC1), the Lake Victoria Environmental Management Program (LVEMP2), the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO3) or SmartFish4, which are mandated to help for a better management of the lake and its resources in the surrounding regions. These organisations and programmes implement projects and initiatives in all the countries where they operate.

Which benefits do you expect from VicInAqua for Kenya and for Lake Victoria?

If the technology is adopted by fish farms or local authorities around Lake Victoria it would reduce pollution loads from the waters getting into the lake. It would also lead to increased production of fish through aquaculture, contributing to improved food security for the Lake populations. VicInAqua also creates employment as the technology is customised by using locally available materials and resources.

What have been your main challenges in VicInAqua?

The main challenge for us but also for the entire team is to reach a technological solution still affordable for the local market. We are also currently focusing our efforts on convincing the local population and stakeholders that the technology works and is worth being adopted. This will mainly occur in the frame of our various capacity building events, such as information sessions, trainings, study visits and round tables, until the pilot is running.

Thank you Susan Clare Adhiambo - Looking forward to your progresses!

 


1 Institution of the East African Community (EAC) located in Kisumu, Kenya. It is mandated to coordinate sustainable development and management of the LVB in the 5 EAC Partner States (Burundi. Kenya. Rwanda. Tanzania, Uganda). www.lvbcom.org

2 Coordinated by the LVBC; its objectives are to contribute to the improvement of 1) the collaborative management of the trans-boundary natural resources of the LVB among the Partner States and 2) the environmental management of targeted pollution hotspots and selected degraded sub-catchments for the benefit of communities. http://lvemp2.go.tz/

3 Institution of the EAC mandated to promote sustainable management and development of fisheries and aquaculture for food security and wealth creation in the EAC. www.lvfo.org

4 Programme run by the Indian Ocean Commission and funded by the EU, covering the Eastern and Southern Africa and Indian Ocean Region (ESA - IO). Its 5 objectives are fisheries management; governance, monitoring, control and surveillance; trade strategy and food security.  More information