The KCSAP is a World Bank funded project being implemented in 24 Counties. The project development objective is “to increase agricultural productivity and build resilience to impacts of climate change risks in targeted smallholder farming and pastoral communities in Kenya. The direct beneficiaries of the project are estimated at 521,500 households of smallholder farmers, agro-pastoralists, and pastoralists, organized in Common Interest Groups (CIGs) and Vulnerable and Marginalized Groups (VMGs). The project has 3 components i.e. component 1: Upscaling climate smart practices, which is implemented by the project Counties; component 2: Strengthening climate smart research and seed systems – which is being managed from KALRO and other research/ education institutions; component

3: supporting agro-weather, climate, market and advisory systems, and this is being managed by other government departments.
Maseno University partnered with other government institutions such as Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), University of Eldoret and Egerton University and won the KCSAP project titled ‘Validating Climate-Smart Fish Culture Systems (CSFCS) for Increased Aquaculture Productivity and Livelihood Security in Kenya’ to be implemented in Siaya, Kakamega and Busia Counties. Other non-government institutions in this project are Textel Industries (Africa) Ltd., Nairobi and Lake Agro Ltd., Siaya. The project is domiciled at the Department of Fisheries and Natural Resources, with Dr. Erick Ogello as the Principal Investigator (PI).

The broad objective of this project is to increase aquaculture productivity and improve livelihoods in a
sustainable environment through validation of climate-smart fish culture systems. The targeted beneficiaries are smallholder farmers, who are organized in Youth groups and Women groups, Common Interest Groups (CIGs) and Vulnerable and Marginalized Groups (VMGs). The project has four main subsections i.e. biofloc technology (BFT) fish farming system (Maseno University), sustainable and Eco-friendly cage culture system (University of Eldoret), finger-pond technology (Egerton University) and integrated fish-poultry system (KMFRI).

Maseno University through Dr. Erick Ogello is also a Co-PI in two other projects i.e. Validating Climate Smart Fish Marketing, Value Addition and Post-harvest Technologies for Improved Food and Nutrition Security and Validating and promoting improved fish strains and health management practices for climate smart aquaculture both implemented by the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) as the implementing partner.

Specific objectives:
1) To validate sustainable biofloc fish farming systems to increase fish larval survival and
productivity, and reduce production cost
2) To promote the use of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) fish cages to increase fish productivity
while enhancing food safety and of aquatic biodiversity
3) To promote finger pond technology to increase fish production, reduce fishing pressure in lakes
and GHG emissions
4) To validate integrated fish-poultry culture system to increase food productivity while conserving
nutrients

Expected output
1. Three model-BFT live food dispensers and one model-BFT grow-out farm established and
operational to increase larval fish survival and production
2. Five HDPE fish cages; five measuring 10m diameter and five measuring 20m diameter
constructed, mounted and operational
3. Ten finger ponds constructed and operational
4. Two model fish-poultry integrated culture units established and operational

Sub-projects
1) Biofloc technology: Blue-cycling system for enhanced fish production
2) Eco-friendly cage technology for farmed tilapia
3) Finger pond technology: turning flood menace to economic gain
4) Integrated fish-poultry technology: maximizing output through waste recycling