The U.S. Peace Corps became involved in fish culture development in the CAR in November 1974 when five volunteers started working in fish culture extension with the Water and Forests Department. They have since renovated government stations in each of their five locations, namely, M'Baiki, Boda, Bossembele, Bocaranga and Grimari, and an active extension programme is presently underway in each of these areas.
Table 10 presents the situation of Peace Corps activity in fish culture extension.
Table 10
SITUATION OF PEACE CORPS ACTIVITY IN FISH CULTURE EXTENSION
IN FIVE AREAS OF THE CAR
August 1975
| AREA | APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF PONDS | NUMBER OF PONDS STOCKED |
| Grimari | 80 | 21 |
| Bocaranga | 100 | 45 |
| Bossembele | 90 | 13 |
| Yaloke | numerous | 35 |
| M'Baiki | 150 | 39 |
| Boda | 200 | 49 |
| TOTAL | 620+ | 202 |
The difference between the approximate total number of ponds and the number of ponds stocked reflects the potential of the U.S. Peace Corps fish culture programme. Most of these unstocked ponds are abandoned or not yet ready for stocking. With only one exception, Boda, the volunteers work alone without counterparts from the Water and Forests Department. Clearly, many more ponds could be stocked and much more work could be realized on this project if counterparts worked with each volunteer.
Other activities of the U.S. volunteers include teaching fish culture at the Agricultural University in M'Baiki and the Agricultural Technical School in Grimari.
Lack of counterparts and operating funds pose major problems in the operation of this project.
