Appendix 4
NORTHERN PROVINCE, ZAMBIA

1 SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE

1.1 DEMOGRAPHY

In 1985, total population in the province was estimated to be 757 000 persons. The number of households were estimated to be 162 600 of which 63% were male-headed and 37% were female-headed, a reflection of a high migration of men out of the province within the active age group 20–29 years. Average life expectancy in the rural areas has been estimated at 46.5 years for males and 52 4 years for females, compared to the respective national average of 48 5 and 50 9 years. The main ethnic groups are the Bisa in the South, Bemba in the centre, Mambwe, Kamba and Lungu in the North. All groups are matrilineal (descent through the female line) with the exception of the Mambwe and Lungu who are patrilineal (descent through the male line)

1.2 ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

The province has one of the highest rural populations in Zambia (82%) The main economic activity is farming, except around Lake Tanganyika and Mweru-wa-Ntipa, where fishing is the predominant economic activity contributing to approximately 30% of the total fish production in Zambia

Chitemene (slash and burn) cultivation of cassava, beans, fingermillet and groundnuts continues to be the traditional farming practice, and remains an integral part of the farming systems, despite a gradual decrease in total area. Hunting and gathering are also important activities for farmers. There is relatively little livestock in the province (with the exception of a few areas in the north-east)

1.3 RECENT CHANGES

The province has undergone significant agricultural change over the last 15 years, as small-scale farmers with the support of government policy and programmes, are growing more cash crops, particularly hybrid maize. This is illustrated by maize production figures for the period 1976–85. Whilst national marketed maize production increased by approximately 50%, marketed maize production in Northern Province increased by 500%, replacing fingermillet and Cassava as the most important staple food.

One consequence of this has been that control of land and labour in households cultivating crops are grown, compared to households cultivating mainly traditional crops, has altered causing a more defined sexual division of labour (males - hybrid maize; female traditional crops) This has further implications for resource allocation to traditional crops (and fish farming).

One of the other consequences of a transition to cash cropping has been an increased incidence of malnutrition especially among resource poorer farming households in the province who have adopted cash cropping but have inadequate resources to finance permanent field crop cultivation.

1.4 OFF-FARM INCOMES

In general, off-farm incomes (beer-brewing, piecework, etc) are an important component of the total annual cash incomes of farming households and in providing for domestic needs.

1.5 FISH FARMERS

In 1986, there were an estimated 731 fish farmers in the province, with the highest percentage (37%) in Kasama District and the lowest (6%) in Luwingu District. A socio-economic survey of fish farmers in Northern Province, undertaken by ALCOM in 1988, revealed that of the 89 respondents interviewed (practising, former and potential fish farmers) most were literate males, over 81% were Bemba, their household size was markedly larger than the provincial average and approximately 40% have held a salaried job. Fish are reared both for home consumption and sale. 87% of all respondents earn cash incomes by selling crops but no information was collected on the amount of land under cultivation or how land and labour are allocated between crops - factors likely to influence the practice of intermittent harvesting.

Almost all the respondents purchased fish for household consumption, so fish farming can be viewed as a way to reduce or divert household expenditures to other items. Informal surveys suggest that in the province, fish, at any size, can be sold easily even in remote areas, as demand is high. (Most fish caught in natural waters are exported out of the province to the Copperbelt, so little is available for local consumption)

The survey did not ask specific questions on intermittent harvesting because survey design was based on the assumption that the practice was a minor component of a farmers harvesting strategy. Nevertheless, 91% of respondents implied that they did practise intermittent harvesting, primarily for household consumption.

2 AQUACULTURE PROFILE

2.1 GENERAL BACKGROUND

Most of the province is located on a plateau within the range 1 000 – 1 400 meters above sea level. The lowest points are the rift valley areas in the North-west (around 900m) and the Luangwa valley in the South-east (around 600m). The highest spot which is also the highest in Zambia, is around 2 000m.

Topography

Northern Province shares the gentle undulating slopes found throughout the Central African Plateau. Much of the province has slopes of around 1 degree. Areas of more substantial relief are found in the rift valley areas and Luangwa valley. The landscape observed is that of wide, convex Savannah woodland, interspersed by occasionally ‘dambos’ where grasses predominate and where soils are seasonally or perennially water-logged.

Soils

One of the outstanding feature of the soils of Northern Province is their acid, highly leached nature. Most of the soils show a moderate to severe acidity status with a pH in the range of 4.0 to 5.5 and a very low and inactive clay fraction.

Climate

Average monthly air temperature of the main plateau is between 17°C and 25°C, whereas the lowest monthly temperature (absolute mean monthly minimum), is near to, or slightly above, 10°C. The highest monthly temperature (absolute mean monthly maximum) ranges from 33°C to 35°C.

Although no average monthly water temperatures are published, it is likely that this corresponds roughly with the average air temperature records (i.e. 17°C and 25°C).

Rainfall

The wet season with intermittent heavy rains is from November to February/March when 80–90% of the rain falls; the rest of the year is dry. The range of the mean annual rainfall within the province is between 850 to 1 000mm per annum. The bulk of the province falls within the ‘high rainfall’ belt of Zambia with annual rainfall from 1 000 – 1 400mm. Most of the province records rain (over 0.3mm/day) between 100 to 120 days per annum.

The mean annual relative humidity is about 70 percent and average daily sunshine is in excess of eight hours during the dry season and three hours during the rainy season. The generally dry warm conditions enhanced by regular winds create high evaporation rates. Average rates vary from 7–8mm per day in the hottest month of October to 3mm per day in June.

2.2 STATUS OF AQUACULTURE

A recent survey has identified the status of aquaculture in the province (see table 1).

Table 1

STATUS OF SMALL-SCALE FISH FARMING IN NORTHRN PROVINCE

The mission visited 13 fish farmers in Kasama District. The number of ponds per farmer ranges from 2 to 21 with a mean size of 100–150m² The majority of the ponds are poorly constructed (shallow, small steep dikes, etc.) and managed. Year round water supplied by a farrow, is frequently available. Seepage is generally high and is compensated by permanent water supply. Some ponds are used as a flow-through system. The ponds are stocked with predominately Tilapia rendalli and to some extent with Oreochromis macrochir Feeding is low, most often comprising of household leftovers and green manure. Agricultural by-products are seldom used. Productivity is generally estimated to be low (i.e. 10–15Kg per are) and the observed fish were all small (5–40g), probably due to stunting.

Nearly all the visited farmers acknowledged practising an intermittent harvest followed by an incomplete batch harvest, once a year. Fish were cropped using hook and line, seine nets, gill nets and fish traps. None of the farmers had ever completely drained their pond, or knew how to keep fingerlings alive for restocking after a complete draining.

2 3 FISH CULTURE CENTRES

The province has four fish culture centres established at Kasama (Misamfu), Isoka, Chinsali and Mpika. The activities of the fish culture stations have been reduced because supplies, equipment and personnel is lacking.

A project to develop aquaculture in the province, funded by NORAD, has recently started (October, 1988). The main objectives of this project are to provide fish seed and to strengthen extension activities. This is to be achieved by the rehabilitation of Misamfu Fish Culture Station (Kasama) into a centre for seed supply. Extension will initially take place at target centres.

The upgrading of the Misamfu Fish Culture Station should be completed at the end of 1989. After upgrading, there will be 26 ponds ranging from 200 to 1 400m² with a total surface of approximately 2 ha. Around 1 ha. (i.e. 13 ponds of 800m²) will be available for applied research. Misamfu has a good perennial water supply which comes from a 3 ha. dam approximately 1km upstream from the ponds The water is slightly acid (pH 5.5) and is generally unproductive.

The NORAD project will adopt the fish farming system developed for rural small-scale fish farming by the FAO/UNDP national programme The system is based on monoculture of the three spotted bream (O. andersonii) in combination with either pigs or ducks. This means that the actual fish stock of the farmers (i.e. T. rendalli and O machrochii) will be replaced by O. andersonii. The first upgraded breeding ponds have already been stocked with O. andersonii