Browsing by Author "Obiero, Kevin"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Food Safety Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Of Fish Handlers in Kirinyaga County Markets, Kenya
    (2023) Kyule, Domitila Ndinda; Mburu, Saimon Wambui; Munguti, Jonathan; Obiero, Kevin; Abwao, Jacob; Ndegwa, Daniel; Outa, Nicholas; Ogello, Erick
    Fish and fish products have high nutritional value and are important in supplementing human diet. Fish products have little or no cholesterol and saturated fat, but instead have omega 3 and low-fat content essential for human health. Despite the high nutritional value of fish products, their consumption is hindered significantly by setbacks such as spoilage and foodborne diseases that spread through contamination in the fish supply chain. The objective of this study was to evaluate fish vendors' attitudes, knowledge, and practices on food safety in selected markets in Kirinyaga County that included Sagana, Tebere, Mwea, Ndia, Kianyaga, and Kerugoya markets. A structured questionnaire was administered to 54 fish vendors to collect information on fish safety, spoilage, risk factors, personal hygiene, food contamination, type of hazards, foodborne diseases and attitudes towards training on food safety. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0 was used to analyze the data from the respondents. The relationship between fish vendors’ demographic characteristics and risk factors was assessed using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. The majority of the fish vendors had a positive attitude towards education in hygiene practices (56%). There was a positive correlation between education and fish vendors' awareness of fish foodborne diseases at p<0.05. The study revealed that fish foodborne diseases awareness was positively influenced by respondents' level of experience and age. Moreover, there was also a significant (p˂ 0.05) positive correlation on the awareness of fish foodborne diseases with hygiene and food safety. Majority of the fish handlers had average level of knowledge, attitude and hygiene practices for food safety. These findings presented a foundation for formulating policies to increase food safety and hygiene practices of fish handlers in the region, thereby preventing foodborne diseases and postharvest losses. The results of this study can also form a basis for an in-depth research for students and researchers in various disciplines such as public health, marketing, community development and more.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Impacts of Covid-19 Pandemic and Adaptive Strategies to Build Resilience in the Kenyan Aquaculture Sector
    (2022-10-08) Munguti, Jonathan; Iteba, Jacob; Outa, Nicholas; Kirimi, James; Mungai, Daniel; Kyule, Domitila; Obiero, Kevin; Ogello, Erick, Ochieng
    This study examines the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and adaptive strategies to build resilience among stakeholders and actors in the aquaculture value chain in Kenya. Prior to the pandemic, Kenya's aquaculture sector had progressed from a minor player to a key component of the country's fish food system. Fish and fishery products have become the most heavily traded food commodity in the Kenyan markets. The results indicate the pandemic had significant impacts on the access to aquaculture inputs, fish trade, and socio-economic livelihoods of the aquaculture value chain stakeholders and actors during the two whole years. Thus, initial and longer-term adaptive measures, in particular by private sector players and government agencies, can contribute to building resilience to multiple shocks and stressors among stakeholders and actors in the aquaculture sector. Some measures include a government incentive package to overcome the damage to the fisheries and aquaculture sector, improve farming operations and win the market trust and adopt new methods such as intelligent sensors, camera systems and automated or remotely controlled monitoring/feeding strategies to reduce labour intensity. Such measures and policies can cushion the sector against future shocks occasioned by such pandemics.