Presentation by R.O Abila, Fisheries Management Advisor,, Kenya Marine & Fisheries Research Institute in collaboration with W. Ojwang, A. Othina, C. Lwenya, R. Oketch, R. Okeyo Session: ICTs, Aquaculture and Fisheries Sector on 5 Nov 2013, ICT4Ag, Kigali, Rwanda

1. Using ICT for fish marketing
The EFMIS model in Kenya
SMS
5565
R.O Abila, W. Ojwang, A. Othina, C. Lwenya, R. Oketch, R. Okeyo
Kenya Marine & Fisheries Research Institute

2. SupportingInstitutions
Host institution
Initial pilot on L. Victoria
Up-scaled phase to all Kenya fisheries
Study on viability of ICT in fisheries

3. Presentation outline
•Background
•Project objectives
•Implementation arrangements
•System design
•Achievements
•Challenges
• Sustainability
• Future prospects

4. Background
Fisheries in Kenya's economy
 GDP, incomes, food, employment, foreign exchange
 Total production = 150,000 MT
 Value of landed fish = USD 125 Million
 Exports value = USD 60 Million
 70,000 fishers; 500,000 fish traders & related activities
7 fish processing firms; Many cooperatives
 Lake Victoria (Kenya)
 90% of fish production
 95% of fish export

5. Scope of fish trade
Local
 National
 Regional (EAC states; S.
Sudan)
 International - (To EU,
Middle East, Asia etc.)


6. Key Marketing issues
•Deficiency in market information & trends
•High price disparities between landing sites/ markets
•Price margins for middlemen
•Post-harvest losses
•High marketing costs
•Low income to fishers and traders

7. Objective of EFMIS
(Enhanced Fish Market Information Service)
To enhance fish trade and incomes
through easy, cheap and faster access to
market information

8. Expected impacts/ benefits
Contribute to;
•Enhanced trade and incomes through;
•Improved pricing system and prices
•Reduction in post-harvest losses
•Reduction in marketing costs
•Greater awareness of market trends

9. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT
KMFRI EFMIS
BENEFICIARIES
BMUs (Fishers, traders, processors)
Cooperative organizations
Fish farmers
Fish consumers

10. System design

11. Service
provider
Cell net
Fishing gear
suppliers

12. Key Features
 A system for generating fish market information
from 180 landing sites, markets, input suppliers
A Data Centre at KMFRI - synthesis and packaging
Access by SMS short code 5565; Automated rapid
response (< 10 secs).
Accessible 24 hrs; from anywhere in Kenya
Dissemination also by internet, radio, newspapers

13. DATA TYPES
 Frequency of data input: Daily
 Fish prices at Landing sites, markets
 Fish Quantity at landing sites, markets
 No. of fish trucks at landing sites
 Basic weather information
Send: MARKET NAME to 5565.
Response within seconds
• e.g. Mbuta; 120Ksh; 30kgs; Dry weather; 4pm

14. TILAPIA
NILE PERCH
DAGAA

15.  Documented
standard procedures
 Trained
data collectors and entry staff
 Manual
data verification and input
 Internal
Quality Monitoring team
 External
monitoring and evaluation

16. Achievements
 A total of 180 landing sites involved
 150 Lake Victoria
10 Lake Turkana
10 Marine fisheries
10 Lake Naivasha
 40 markets
 About 50,000 SMS received
 1,000 receive monthly bulletins

17. Monthly Fish Market Information Bulletins

18. Nile perch Tilapia Dagaa
MONTHLY PRICE TREND
Jul-09
126
72
150
121
76
153
128
72
162
136
75
May-10 146
138
105
Jul-10
160
145
105
Sep-10
170
152
108
Nov-10
160
161
117
Jan-11
153
180
121
Mar-11
50
145
Mar-10
100
60
Jan-10
150
107
Nov-09
200
135
Sep-09
250
169
204
142
Nile perch
Tilapia
Dagaa
Mar-11
Feb-11
Jan-11
Dec-10
Nov-10
Oct-10
Sep-10
Aug-10
Jul-10
Jun-10
May-10
Apr-10
Mar-10
Feb-10
Jan-10
Dec-09
Nov-09
Oct-09
Sep-09
Aug-09
Jul-09
0
Nile perch
25%
Tilapia Dagaa
91%
137%

19. Communication and outreach

20. Media and Publicity

21. Incentives for BMUs (fishers)
 Provide low cost mobile phones
 Provide air time credit every month
 support BMUs to events organized by the project
 Train selected BMUs for project data collection
 Provide publicity materials e.g. T-shirts, posters,
brochures
 Share revenue generated by the project with
BMUs.
 Attract other organizations to enhance business
capacity of the fishing community.

22. Meeting
information needs of different
stakeholders (Fishers, fish traders, farmers)
Non-cooperation
Publicity
& awareness creation
Maintaining

of some key players
contribution of BMUs
Dealing with highly diverse products
Lack
of clear standards on quality & pricing
 Sustaining the system

23. Sustainability
• Minimal user charger fee
•Institutional ownership
•BMUs play a bigger role
•Private sector support
•Incorporate business ideas

24. Relevance
High
demand for information services
Public
interest nationally, regionally
Within
policy framework e.g. NFP, EAC
In
line with current development trends
Can
incorporate new business ideas

25. What is the future?
 A lot of interest nationally, regionally and
globally
 More information packages
 Aquaculture
 Fishing inputs
 Scientific data e.g. SMARTFISH
 Up-scaling and adapt for
•East Africa & COMESA

26. •KMFRI
•ILO
• EU
•NCST
Thanks! Asante sana