In 1964 the Central African Government requested the United Nations to conduct a fish culture feasibility study and make recommendations for a project. Parallel studies were conducted in the neighbouring countries of Congo, Gabon and Cameroon. These studies, conducted in early 1965, led to the proposal of a UNDP/FAO four-year regional project entitled “Training and Research in Fish Culture” (FI:SF/RAF/66/054). The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations subcontracted this first project to the Centre Technique Forestier Tropical (C.T.F.T.) who executed the project in Bengui. The Landjia national fish culture station being at Bangui, the CAR was chosen to be the regional headquarters for this project. National fish culture centres were established in each of the other participating countries.
The objectives of this first UNDP/FAO project were based on the fact that the failure of the past colonial fish culture extension programme was in large part due to the lack of adequately trained extension agents and poorly developed fish culture techniques. Thus, project goals included the training of extension agents (moniteurs) and intermediate level technicians (cadres moyens), as well as fish culture research.
Funding through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) amounted to U.S.$ 807 500 for the entire regional project and the four participating governments contributed a total of U.S.$ 662 324. With these funds, materials and vehicles were purchased and facilities were expanded at the four national fish culture stations. At the Landjia station, facilities were greatly improved by construction of housing for international advisers, a laboratory-classroom and a dormitory and kitchen for 12 trainees. Improvement was made in existing facilities including the construction of ponds.
During the course of this first UN project, fish culture training programmes were conducted at two levels. Candidates for these programmes were submitted to the project by the CAR Government from the ranks of the Water and Forests Department agents. Most candidates had little, if any, training in fish culture or any sort of agriculture, and all were taken from positions such as forest rangers and fish and game wardens. At the present time some 200 such general agents are in the Water and Forests Department.
Two nine-month training programmes were conducted at the intermediate level. The minimum education required for admittance was the B.P.C. (Brevet Elementaire du Premier Cycle) which requires a total of ten years of primary and secondary school education. Included in this training programme were theoretical instruction and practical work on all aspects of warm water fish culture. Six Central Africans completed training, two of whom received scholarships for further training in Israel. Today only one of them is working full-time in fish culture, and he is involved largely in administration of the present project.
Three training programmes of three months each were conducted at the extension agent level, and twenty-eight Central Africans completed the course. The minimum education required for admission was completion of primary school or six years. General aspects of fish culture were covered, including practical work and theoretical classroom instruction. Today thirteen of these agents are working full-time in fish culture, twelve of whom are with the present FAO project and one is a counterpart to a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer. The entire Regional Project trained eighty-nine extension agents and twenty-one intermidiate level technicians from the four participating countries.
Significant contributions in fish culture research were made by the first project. Preliminary observations were made in evaluating several new fish species for culture. Much progress was made in the culture of Clarias lazera including natural and induced spawning and in feeding and production both in monoculture and in polyculture with Tilapia nilotica. Significant advances were made in feed technology including formulation, processing and pelleting. Feeding trials were conducted on Clarias and Tilapia using different formulations. Studies were conducted to evaluate various organic fertilizers. Basic research was completed on pig/fish and duck/fish cultures. Other areas of work undertaken by this first FAO project included a study of economic aspects of local fish culture and the beginning of reorganizing fish culture extension work in the Bangui area.
