Impact
Our impact
Billy Fish is a woman-led business. Most of the people who buy from us are women, and 29 women’s groups now farm fish in cages with our support. This is what the farm does for the people around it.
29
women’s groups in our cage outgrower programme
580
women members, 20 in each group
100+
traders served every day, most of them women
20+
people employed directly
Cage outgrower programme
Women’s groups farming their own cages
We have brought 29 women’s groups into our cage outgrower programme. Each group has 20 members.
Each group gets a revolving fund that covers its inputs for a full production cycle: the cage, fingerlings and feed. As the anchor farm, Billy Fish manages the cages and trains the women in the technical side of cage farming.
When the fish are ready, we buy them, so every group has a market for its harvest.
Support for fish traders
Fish trader groups we work with receive revolving funds to grow their businesses.
We have also given support in kind: a fully equipped 20-foot container for cold storage and value addition, and start-up kits that help small traders add value to their fish.
Our partners
Our outgrower programme and our support for fish trader groups are backed by development partners and a Kenyan financial institution. Their support funds the revolving funds that pay for cages, fingerlings and feed, and the equipment we have handed over to traders.
Partner names and logos will appear here once each partner has agreed.
Jobs, farmers and clean energy
Women in the fish trade
Most of the 100-plus traders we supply every day are women: fishmongers, hotel operators and market sellers. Fish farming around the lake has mostly been run by men; Billy Fish has been led by a woman since 2019.
Jobs
More than 20 people work for us directly, as hatchery and cage technicians, divers, pond keepers, drivers and hub sales staff. The business supports more than 40 other jobs around it.
Smallholder farmers
We buy fish from smallholder farmers through our hubs in Kisumu, Kakamega and Homa Bay, so they have a buyer close to home.
Solar power
The whole farm runs on solar energy, from the panels on the roof to the control room and the hatchery.
Is your group interested?
Women’s groups who trade or farm fish can send us their details. We will get in touch when we take on new groups.
A trader’s story
“Before, I would wait at the beach and buy whatever came in, at whatever price. Now I order the night before, collect in the morning and sell everything by afternoon. Our group has its own cage, and next season we want a second one.”
Sample story. It will be replaced with a real trader’s words and photo, used with her consent.
Need fish this week?
Send us a WhatsApp with how many kilos you need and where you are. We will confirm the day’s price and when your fish will be ready.