Fish farming contributes to the attainment of food and nutritional security by providing high-quality fish proteins and micro and macro nutrients thereby minimizing hidden hunger. Fish supply in Kenya is mostly from capture fisheries, particularly fresh water lakes that contribute more than 90 per cent of the total fish produced. Agri-food supply chains involve the flow of products and information, and activities from production through to processing and consumption. Through value addition, at each stage, the value is increased along the chain. Traceability enhances tracking and tracing of fish and fish products information in the supply chains. A situational assessment was conducted along the farmed fish value chain in Kirinyaga County in Kenya in June and July 2013. The objective of the study was to assess traceability along the farmed fish value chain. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires and data analysis was done using SPSS version 16 software. Most farmers stocked mixed sex tilapia in monoculture, which led to over-breeding and harvesting of small-sized fish, while the market demand was for table-sized fish. The high cost of inputs, especially feeds, increased the cost of production. Value addition was limited as most farmers did not have enough quantities of fish to facilitate value addition. Traceability was limited; only a few farmers kept operations records and most of them did not share production information with other stakeholders in the chain. The study recommends capacity building through training on value addition and traceability along the value chains.

Alfaro, J.A. and Rábade, L.A. (2009) ‘Traceability as a strategic tool to improve inventory management: a case study in the food industry’, International Journal of Production Economics 118(1): 104–10 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2008.08.030>.

AllAfrica (2007) ‘Uganda: curb overfishing on Lake Victoria, Editorial’ [online], New Vision <http://allafrica.com/stories/200709260037.html> [accessed 4 September 2013].

Bertolini, M., Bevilacqua, M. and Massini, R. (2006) ‘FMECA approach to product traceability in the food industry’, Food Control 17(2): 137–45 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2004.09.013>.

Buhr, B.L. (2003) ‘Traceability and information technology in the meat supply chain: implications for firm organization and market structure’, Journal of Food Distribution Research 34: 13–26.

Charo-Karisa, H. and Gichuri, M. (2010) ‘Overview of the fish farming enterprise productivity program’, in End of Year Report Fish Farming Enterprise Productivity Program Phase I, Nairobi, Kenya: Aquaculture Development Working Group, Ministry of Fisheries Development.

Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) (2014) ‘Cultured aquatic species information programme: Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822)’ [online], Fisheries and Aquaculture Department <www.fao.org/fishery/culturedspecies/Clarias_gariepinus/en> [accessed 4 September 2013].

Golan, E., Krissoff, B., Kuchler, F., Calvin, L., Nelson, K. and Price, G. (2004) Traceability in the US Food Supply: Economic Theory and Industry Studies, Agricultural Economic Report 830, Washington, DC: ERS, USDA.

Heyder, M., Theuvsen, L. and Hollmann-Hespos, T. (2012) ‘Investments in tracking and tracing systems in the food industry: a PLS analysis’, Food Policy 37: 102–13 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2011.11.006>.

Hobbs, J.E., Bailey, D., Dickinson, D.L. and Haghiri, M. (2005) ‘Traceability in the Canadian red meat sector: do consumers care?’ Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics 53(1): 47–65.

Li, D., Tang, O., O’Brien, C. and Wang, X. (2006) ‘Improve food retail supply chain operations with dynamic pricing and product tracing’, International Journal Service Operations and Informatics 1(4): 347–62 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1504/IJSOI.2006.012161>.

Ngugi, C.C., Bowman, J.R. and Omolo, B. (2007) A New Guide to Fish Farming in Kenya: A Report of the Aquaculture Collaborative Research Program. Corvallis, OR: Oregon State University.

Peterson, H.C. and Wysocki, A.F. (1997) The Vertical Coordination Continuum and the Determinants of Firm-Level Coordination Strategy, No. 11817, East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.

Pouliot, S. and Sumner, D.A. (2008) ‘Traceability, liability, and incentives for food safety and quality’, American Journal of Agricultural Economics 90(1): 15–27 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8276.2007.01061.x>.

Rich K., Ross R., Baker, A. and Negassa, A. (2011) ‘Quantifying value chain analysis in the context of livestock systems in developing countries’, Food Policy 36: 214–22 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2010.11.018>.

Royer, J. (1995) ‘Potential for cooperative involvement in vertical coordination and value-added activities’, Agribusiness 11(5): 473–81.

Ruiz-Garcia, L., Steinberger, G. and Rothmund, M. (2010) ‘A model and prototype implementation for tracking and tracing agricultural batch products along the food chain’, Food Control 21: 112–21 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2008.12.003>.

Shoko, A.P., Limbu, S.M., Mrosso, H.D.J. and Mgaya, Y.D. (2014) ‘A comparison of diurnal dynamics of water quality parameters in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus, Linnaeus, 1758) monoculture and polyculture with African sharp tooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus, Burchell, 1822) in earthen ponds’, International Aquatic Research 6: 56 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40071-014-0056-8>.

Souza-Monteiro, D.M. and Caswell, J.A. (2010) ‘The economics of voluntary traceability in multi-ingredient food chains’, Agribusiness 26(1): 122–42 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/agr.20233>.

Stuart, T. (2009) Waste, Uncovering the Global Food Scandal, London: Penguin.

Tilley, D. (1989) ‘Value-added activities as a rural development strategy: discussion’, Southern Journal of Agricultural Economics 1: 37–40.

Wang, X. and Li, D. (2006) ‘Value added on food traceability: a supply chain management approach’, presented at IEEE International Conference on Service Operations and Logistics, and Informatics, 2006. SOLI’06, pp. 493–8, Piscataway, NJ: IEEE.

Alfaro, J.A. and Rábade, L.A. (2009) ‘Traceability as a strategic tool to improve inventory management: a case study in the food industry’, International Journal of Production Economics 118(1): 104–10 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2008.08.030>.

AllAfrica (2007) ‘Uganda: curb overfishing on Lake Victoria, Editorial’ [online], New Vision <http://allafrica.com/stories/200709260037.html> [accessed 4 September 2013].

Bertolini, M., Bevilacqua, M. and Massini, R. (2006) ‘FMECA approach to product traceability in the food industry’, Food Control 17(2): 137–45 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2004.09.013>.

Buhr, B.L. (2003) ‘Traceability and information technology in the meat supply chain: implications for firm organization and market structure’, Journal of Food Distribution Research 34: 13–26.

Charo-Karisa, H. and Gichuri, M. (2010) ‘Overview of the fish farming enterprise productivity program’, in End of Year Report Fish Farming Enterprise Productivity Program Phase I, Nairobi, Kenya: Aquaculture Development Working Group, Ministry of Fisheries Development.

Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) (2014) ‘Cultured aquatic species information programme: Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822)’ [online], Fisheries and Aquaculture Department <www.fao.org/fishery/culturedspecies/Clarias_gariepinus/en> [accessed 4 September 2013].

Golan, E., Krissoff, B., Kuchler, F., Calvin, L., Nelson, K. and Price, G. (2004) Traceability in the US Food Supply: Economic Theory and Industry Studies, Agricultural Economic Report 830, Washington, DC: ERS, USDA.

Heyder, M., Theuvsen, L. and Hollmann-Hespos, T. (2012) ‘Investments in tracking and tracing systems in the food industry: a PLS analysis’, Food Policy 37: 102–13 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2011.11.006>.

Hobbs, J.E., Bailey, D., Dickinson, D.L. and Haghiri, M. (2005) ‘Traceability in the Canadian red meat sector: do consumers care?’ Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics 53(1): 47–65.

Li, D., Tang, O., O’Brien, C. and Wang, X. (2006) ‘Improve food retail supply chain operations with dynamic pricing and product tracing’, International Journal Service Operations and Informatics 1(4): 347–62 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1504/IJSOI.2006.012161>.

Ngugi, C.C., Bowman, J.R. and Omolo, B. (2007) A New Guide to Fish Farming in Kenya: A Report of the Aquaculture Collaborative Research Program. Corvallis, OR: Oregon State University.

Peterson, H.C. and Wysocki, A.F. (1997) The Vertical Coordination Continuum and the Determinants of Firm-Level Coordination Strategy, No. 11817, East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.

Pouliot, S. and Sumner, D.A. (2008) ‘Traceability, liability, and incentives for food safety and quality’, American Journal of Agricultural Economics 90(1): 15–27 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8276.2007.01061.x>.

Rich K., Ross R., Baker, A. and Negassa, A. (2011) ‘Quantifying value chain analysis in the context of livestock systems in developing countries’, Food Policy 36: 214–22 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2010.11.018>.

Royer, J. (1995) ‘Potential for cooperative involvement in vertical coordination and value-added activities’, Agribusiness 11(5): 473–81.

Ruiz-Garcia, L., Steinberger, G. and Rothmund, M. (2010) ‘A model and prototype implementation for tracking and tracing agricultural batch products along the food chain’, Food Control 21: 112–21 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2008.12.003>.

Shoko, A.P., Limbu, S.M., Mrosso, H.D.J. and Mgaya, Y.D. (2014) ‘A comparison of diurnal dynamics of water quality parameters in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus, Linnaeus, 1758) monoculture and polyculture with African sharp tooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus, Burchell, 1822) in earthen ponds’, International Aquatic Research 6: 56 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40071-014-0056-8>.

Souza-Monteiro, D.M. and Caswell, J.A. (2010) ‘The economics of voluntary traceability in multi-ingredient food chains’, Agribusiness 26(1): 122–42 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/agr.20233>.

Stuart, T. (2009) Waste, Uncovering the Global Food Scandal, London: Penguin.

Tilley, D. (1989) ‘Value-added activities as a rural development strategy: discussion’, Southern Journal of Agricultural Economics 1: 37–40.

Wang, X. and Li, D. (2006) ‘Value added on food traceability: a supply chain management approach’, presented at IEEE International Conference on Service Operations and Logistics, and Informatics, 2006. SOLI’06, pp. 493–8, Piscataway, NJ: IEEE.

Alfaro, J.A. and Rábade, L.A. (2009) ‘Traceability as a strategic tool to improve inventory management: a case study in the food industry’, International Journal of Production Economics 118(1): 104–10 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2008.08.030>.

AllAfrica (2007) ‘Uganda: curb overfishing on Lake Victoria, Editorial’ [online], New Vision <http://allafrica.com/stories/200709260037.html> [accessed 4 September 2013].

Bertolini, M., Bevilacqua, M. and Massini, R. (2006) ‘FMECA approach to product traceability in the food industry’, Food Control 17(2): 137–45 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2004.09.013>.

Buhr, B.L. (2003) ‘Traceability and information technology in the meat supply chain: implications for firm organization and market structure’, Journal of Food Distribution Research 34: 13–26.

Charo-Karisa, H. and Gichuri, M. (2010) ‘Overview of the fish farming enterprise productivity program’, in End of Year Report Fish Farming Enterprise Productivity Program Phase I, Nairobi, Kenya: Aquaculture Development Working Group, Ministry of Fisheries Development.

Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) (2014) ‘Cultured aquatic species information programme: Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822)’ [online], Fisheries and Aquaculture Department <www.fao.org/fishery/culturedspecies/Clarias_gariepinus/en> [accessed 4 September 2013].

Golan, E., Krissoff, B., Kuchler, F., Calvin, L., Nelson, K. and Price, G. (2004) Traceability in the US Food Supply: Economic Theory and Industry Studies, Agricultural Economic Report 830, Washington, DC: ERS, USDA.

Heyder, M., Theuvsen, L. and Hollmann-Hespos, T. (2012) ‘Investments in tracking and tracing systems in the food industry: a PLS analysis’, Food Policy 37: 102–13 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2011.11.006>.

Hobbs, J.E., Bailey, D., Dickinson, D.L. and Haghiri, M. (2005) ‘Traceability in the Canadian red meat sector: do consumers care?’ Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics 53(1): 47–65.

Li, D., Tang, O., O’Brien, C. and Wang, X. (2006) ‘Improve food retail supply chain operations with dynamic pricing and product tracing’, International Journal Service Operations and Informatics 1(4): 347–62 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1504/IJSOI.2006.012161>.

Ngugi, C.C., Bowman, J.R. and Omolo, B. (2007) A New Guide to Fish Farming in Kenya: A Report of the Aquaculture Collaborative Research Program. Corvallis, OR: Oregon State University.

Peterson, H.C. and Wysocki, A.F. (1997) The Vertical Coordination Continuum and the Determinants of Firm-Level Coordination Strategy, No. 11817, East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.

Pouliot, S. and Sumner, D.A. (2008) ‘Traceability, liability, and incentives for food safety and quality’, American Journal of Agricultural Economics 90(1): 15–27 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8276.2007.01061.x>.

Rich K., Ross R., Baker, A. and Negassa, A. (2011) ‘Quantifying value chain analysis in the context of livestock systems in developing countries’, Food Policy 36: 214–22 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2010.11.018>.

Royer, J. (1995) ‘Potential for cooperative involvement in vertical coordination and value-added activities’, Agribusiness 11(5): 473–81.

Ruiz-Garcia, L., Steinberger, G. and Rothmund, M. (2010) ‘A model and prototype implementation for tracking and tracing agricultural batch products along the food chain’, Food Control 21: 112–21 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2008.12.003>.

Shoko, A.P., Limbu, S.M., Mrosso, H.D.J. and Mgaya, Y.D. (2014) ‘A comparison of diurnal dynamics of water quality parameters in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus, Linnaeus, 1758) monoculture and polyculture with African sharp tooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus, Burchell, 1822) in earthen ponds’, International Aquatic Research 6: 56 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40071-014-0056-8>.

Souza-Monteiro, D.M. and Caswell, J.A. (2010) ‘The economics of voluntary traceability in multi-ingredient food chains’, Agribusiness 26(1): 122–42 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/agr.20233>.

Stuart, T. (2009) Waste, Uncovering the Global Food Scandal, London: Penguin.

Tilley, D. (1989) ‘Value-added activities as a rural development strategy: discussion’, Southern Journal of Agricultural Economics 1: 37–40.

Wang, X. and Li, D. (2006) ‘Value added on food traceability: a supply chain management approach’, presented at IEEE International Conference on Service Operations and Logistics, and Informatics, 2006. SOLI’06, pp. 493–8, Piscataway, NJ: IEEE.

Alfaro, J.A. and Rábade, L.A. (2009) ‘Traceability as a strategic tool to improve inventory management: a case study in the food industry’, International Journal of Production Economics 118(1): 104–10 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2008.08.030>.

AllAfrica (2007) ‘Uganda: curb overfishing on Lake Victoria, Editorial’ [online], New Vision <http://allafrica.com/stories/200709260037.html> [accessed 4 September 2013].

Bertolini, M., Bevilacqua, M. and Massini, R. (2006) ‘FMECA approach to product traceability in the food industry’, Food Control 17(2): 137–45 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2004.09.013>.

Buhr, B.L. (2003) ‘Traceability and information technology in the meat supply chain: implications for firm organization and market structure’, Journal of Food Distribution Research 34: 13–26.

Charo-Karisa, H. and Gichuri, M. (2010) ‘Overview of the fish farming enterprise productivity program’, in End of Year Report Fish Farming Enterprise Productivity Program Phase I, Nairobi, Kenya: Aquaculture Development Working Group, Ministry of Fisheries Development.

Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) (2014) ‘Cultured aquatic species information programme: Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822)’ [online], Fisheries and Aquaculture Department <www.fao.org/fishery/culturedspecies/Clarias_gariepinus/en> [accessed 4 September 2013].

Golan, E., Krissoff, B., Kuchler, F., Calvin, L., Nelson, K. and Price, G. (2004) Traceability in the US Food Supply: Economic Theory and Industry Studies, Agricultural Economic Report 830, Washington, DC: ERS, USDA.

Heyder, M., Theuvsen, L. and Hollmann-Hespos, T. (2012) ‘Investments in tracking and tracing systems in the food industry: a PLS analysis’, Food Policy 37: 102–13 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2011.11.006>.

Hobbs, J.E., Bailey, D., Dickinson, D.L. and Haghiri, M. (2005) ‘Traceability in the Canadian red meat sector: do consumers care?’ Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics 53(1): 47–65.

Li, D., Tang, O., O’Brien, C. and Wang, X. (2006) ‘Improve food retail supply chain operations with dynamic pricing and product tracing’, International Journal Service Operations and Informatics 1(4): 347–62 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1504/IJSOI.2006.012161>.

Ngugi, C.C., Bowman, J.R. and Omolo, B. (2007) A New Guide to Fish Farming in Kenya: A Report of the Aquaculture Collaborative Research Program. Corvallis, OR: Oregon State University.

Peterson, H.C. and Wysocki, A.F. (1997) The Vertical Coordination Continuum and the Determinants of Firm-Level Coordination Strategy, No. 11817, East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.

Pouliot, S. and Sumner, D.A. (2008) ‘Traceability, liability, and incentives for food safety and quality’, American Journal of Agricultural Economics 90(1): 15–27 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8276.2007.01061.x>.

Rich K., Ross R., Baker, A. and Negassa, A. (2011) ‘Quantifying value chain analysis in the context of livestock systems in developing countries’, Food Policy 36: 214–22 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2010.11.018>.

Royer, J. (1995) ‘Potential for cooperative involvement in vertical coordination and value-added activities’, Agribusiness 11(5): 473–81.

Ruiz-Garcia, L., Steinberger, G. and Rothmund, M. (2010) ‘A model and prototype implementation for tracking and tracing agricultural batch products along the food chain’, Food Control 21: 112–21 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2008.12.003>.

Shoko, A.P., Limbu, S.M., Mrosso, H.D.J. and Mgaya, Y.D. (2014) ‘A comparison of diurnal dynamics of water quality parameters in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus, Linnaeus, 1758) monoculture and polyculture with African sharp tooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus, Burchell, 1822) in earthen ponds’, International Aquatic Research 6: 56 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40071-014-0056-8>.

Souza-Monteiro, D.M. and Caswell, J.A. (2010) ‘The economics of voluntary traceability in multi-ingredient food chains’, Agribusiness 26(1): 122–42 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/agr.20233>.

Stuart, T. (2009) Waste, Uncovering the Global Food Scandal, London: Penguin.

Tilley, D. (1989) ‘Value-added activities as a rural development strategy: discussion’, Southern Journal of Agricultural Economics 1: 37–40.

Wang, X. and Li, D. (2006) ‘Value added on food traceability: a supply chain management approach’, presented at IEEE International Conference on Service Operations and Logistics, and Informatics, 2006. SOLI’06, pp. 493–8, Piscataway, NJ: IEEE.