Moving Toward Sustainable Aquaculture for Rural Sustainability and Development in Kenya. A Case of Vihiga County

Kenya has a tremendous great potential for growth in the aquaculture sector. To attain the sustainable development goal of zero hunger, the government is needed to encourage fish culture among the rural communities. The study's objective is to investigate the elements that affect the sustainable development of fresh water Aquaculture in Kenya a Vihiga County case. The purpose of the research is to determine how production characteristics and extension affect the long-term sustainability of freshwater aquaculture and how socioeconomic factors, training, and Extension services influence the long-term sustainability of fresh water aquaculture. The research design was descriptive. 110 fish farmers were the study's target set of respondents. The study's sample size was 96 respondents, who were identified by Krejcie and Morgan's table. The information was collected via a questionnaire, and descriptive statistics were used in an excel spreadsheet using a statistical tool for social sciences to analyze the information. Tables, graphs, and pie charts were used to present the findings. Based on the survey, the majority of respondents (55) owned 1 or 2 ponds, and 92.3% had never closed a pond. Based on the research, 76.9% of respondents culture tilapia in their farm. The majority of 47.4% and 44.9% of fingerlings came from Neighbours and government farms, respectively. The study also revealed that 61.5% of respondents utilize earthen ponds with river water as their main source of water.42.3% of respondents, in accordance with the report, manage the parameters and water level of their ponds daily. The study also showed that whereas 29.6% of respondents had experienced bacterial infections in their fish farm, 46.2% of respondents had never experienced fish diseases. By 67.9%, birds were the primary fish predators.88.7% of respondents said they have attended aquaculture training. The study's main conclusion is that a broad range of variables affect the sustainable development of fresh water. The study suggests that the county government of Vihiga should create distinct marketing strategies for farmed fish. For those actively promoting the sustainable development of fresh water aquaculture in Kenya, the research is essential.