Gender Dynamics in Participatory Fish-Farming toward Sustainable Community Development in Kisii County, Kenya

Mainstreaming gender equity in participatory fish-farming is important in the attainment of protein food security, reducing poverty and improving food security in Kisii County. There are various permanent rivers in Kisii County, but fish farming was not commonly practiced as the alternative source of the traditional protein food. People depended on fishing from the common water bodies accessible from their neighborhood, which was limited. The study was based on the problem whose statement was that women and the poor people lacked an enabling environment for participatory fish-farming toward protein-food security and sustainable community development in Kisii County. The study was guided by the following specific objectives: 1. Assess gender dynamic-issues in participatory fish-farming toward food security and sustainable community development in Kisii County; 2). Examine ways of building women’s capacity to strengthen participatory fish farming in Kisii County; and 3). Explore ways to increase monitoring, evaluation and responsiveness in gender-based participatory fish farming in Kisii County. Literature relating to gender equality and community capacity building for participatory fish farming was reviewed. The study used descriptive survey method, and used purposive cluster sampling method to select 160 respondents out of the population of the study. The study findings revealed that fish farming as an alternative source of protein food has the potential of safeguarding food security in the face of climate change challenges. But fish farming was administered under the public department of fisheries, and the method used was mostly top-down approach of disseminating information for improved fish farming. Therefore, there was room to promote gender-based participatory fish farming toward food security and sustainable development in Kisii County. The study recommended that the leaders need to develop and implement a policy guide to promote participatory fish farming, including participation of women and poor household members in decision making, management and improvement of fish farming. Women and the vulnerable members of the society also need to be ready and willing to be empowered to participate in fish farming as alternative source of protein food.