Characterization of the practices and utilization of fish feed ingredients among fish farmers in Kenya

The sustainable growth of aquaculture in sub-Saharan Africa depends critically on the availability of affordable, nutritious fish feeds and the adoption of appropriate feeding practices. In support of this objective, WorldFish is implementing a five-year initiative titled Development and Scaling of Sustainable Feeds for Resilient Aquatic Food Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa (FASA), funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad). The project aims to develop and scale locally appropriate feed solutions to enhance productivity, resilience, and livelihoods among smallholder aquaculture producers. This dataset presents baseline survey data collected from 846 smallholder fish farmers in Kenya to inform the design, implementation, and evaluation of FASA interventions. The survey covers both grow-out and hatchery operations across nine counties, including six counties in the Lake Victoria region (Kakamega, Busia, Kisumu, Siaya, Migori, and Homa Bay) and three coastal counties (Kwale, Kilifi, and Mombasa). Data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered through face-to-face interviews. The dataset contains detailed information on farmers’ socio-economic characteristics, aquaculture production systems, feeding and feed management practices, access to and use of locally available feed ingredients, feed sourcing and costs, knowledge and awareness of alternative feed options, and constraints to adoption. Additional variables capture institutional access, extension services, and market-related factors influencing feed use decisions. This dataset provides a robust empirical foundation for analyzing determinants of feed access and utilization, identifying barriers to the uptake of locally available feed ingredients, and establishing benchmark indicators for monitoring change over the life of the FASA project. Beyond project monitoring and evaluation, the dataset is relevant for researchers, policymakers, and development practitioners interested in aquaculture feed systems, smallholder productivity, and sustainable aquatic food system transformation in sub-Saharan Africa.