Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani has called on local fisher folks to join cooperative societies so as to improve their welfare since fisheries have high potential for economic growth.
Governor Achani said the cooperative concept ensures that the fisher folks have access to finance, markets and technology thus boosting their productivity.
Achani urged the farmers to form or join cooperatives to benefit from the various government driven programs aimed at increasing their income.
She said her administration was determined to boost fish production in the region through fishermen cooperatives as effective machinery for improvement of economic and social welfare of small-scale fisher folks.
Achani observed that by joining fishers’ groups, members benefit from cooperative subsidies and incentives noting that the devolved unit was investing heavily in bolstering the county’s fisheries sector.
The first female governor for Kwale county said by forming cooperatives, the fisher folks are able to access funding from the national and devolved government which could be used to purchase equipment such as boats, fishing gear and other essential fishing tools.
The County boss said her administration continues to support the growth of the fisheries sector by providing subsidized fishing equipment in order to increase the profitability of their livelihood.
She said her administration is turning its focus on the blue economy sector by distributing fishing boats with nets and outboard motors, cooler boxes, flares, bond liners, GPS gadgets, life rafts, lifesaving rings and life jacket floats to fishermen in a bid to turn fishing into a profitable venture.