Our Footsteps
The Aquaculture Consortium is proud to work closely with communities in different counties across Kenya. The counties include:
1. Laikipia
2. Meru
3. Murang’a
4. Embu
5. Nyeri
6. Counties within the Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB), which includes 14 counties, namely: Bomet, Bungoma, Busia, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Kericho, Kisii, Kisumu, Migori, Nandi, Nyamira, Siaya, Trans Nzoia, and Vihiga.
We believe in building strong partnerships with local communities to promote sustainable aquaculture practices and improve livelihoods. Through our collaborations, we aim to make a positive impact on both the environment and the lives of people in these regions.
Social Impact
- Collaborating with fish farmers cooperatives to benefit fisherfolk beyond pond and cage farmers.(Farmers are organised into cooperatives, why and do they provide leverage )
- Women empowerment through self-development programs, inventory, and capacity building.
- Environmental and climate resilience through Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) , with waste recycling partnership with a Scandinavian Biogas company.
- Development of Beach Management Units(BMUs) integrating the value chain, providing capacity building and employment opportunities. Vemric’s support for the development of BMU will contribute to improved fisheries management. By providing technical assistance and support to BMUs, Vemric will help to improve the sustainability of the fisheries sector and ensure that it benefits the local community. Vemric in the past has provided BMUs with cooler boxes for the preservation of fish and will continue supporting their growth and expansion for the benefit of the community.
- Safety and emergency response sector, including patrol boats, safety training, and beach guard training along Lwanda K’Otieno Beach.
- Subsidizing ice costs for farmers and beach units to reduce post-harvest losses. Vemric recognizes that fish farmers are a crucial part of the fisheries sector, and their social and economic well-being is important to promote sustainable fishing practices. By providing access to a ready market Vemric will have reduced the exploitation of farmers by brokers significantly. Vemric will ensure that fish farmers are treated fairly and provided with the necessary resources to increase productivity. This will help to address issues such as poverty, food insecurity, and environmental degradation, which are often associated with the exploitation of fish farmers.
Farmers’ Impact
● Collaboration with Cooperatives to ensure that fish folk benefit from the project and not limit the opportunity to scale up to pond and cage farmers only.
● Development of BMUs to provide capacity building on fish handling processes and numerous opportunities for the community to receive employment.
● Subsidizing the cost of ice for farmers and beach units as it is an expensive commodity, reducing post-harvest losses significantly.
Market
The Aquaculture Consortium has been expanding its global presence through increased retail and distribution, with its products being supplied to multiple wholesalers in Europe and the UAE. This expansion has been made possible through Vemric’s certification to meet global food safety standards, ensuring that our products are of high quality and safe for consumption. With our commitment to sustainability and ethical practices, we are confident that our products will continue to gain popularity in both existing and new markets. We are excited about the potential to create new partnerships and bring our sustainable and high-quality products to even more consumers worldwide.
Climate Change
Climate change is a significant challenge facing our planet, and it is important for us to take action to mitigate its impact. At the Aquaculture Consortium, we recognize the importance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ECG) and Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) as an integrated approach to managing the value chain ecosystem. As part of our efforts to promote sustainability and reduce our carbon footprint, we have partnered with a Scandinavian Biogas company to recycle waste material from fish processing into biogas. This not only reduces waste but also provides a renewable energy source that contributes to a cleaner and more sustainable future.
Women Empowerment
By providing opportunities for women to participate in the aquaculture industry, the consortium is promoting gender equality and reducing gender-based discrimination. This can lead to positive social change in the community, including increased respect for women’s rights, improved access to education and healthcare, and increased economic opportunities for women and their families.
