The on-farm rice-cum-fish trials in Luapula Province were a collaborative effort between the Adaptive Research Planning Team (ARPT), the Rice Team under the Department of Agriculture, Luapula Province, the Department of Fisheries (DoF), Luapula Province, and ALCOM. ARPT provided fortnightly supervision, and supplied rice seeds and inorganic fertilizer, while ALCOM supplied fingerlings. Transport costs to the trial areas were shared between these two organizations. During the trials, the Rice Team supervised technical issues concerning rice, and monitored two trials in one area. The DoF provided technical input on fish farming issues. ALCOM produced a pamphlet on rice-cum-fish farming (ALCOM Extension Pamphlet No. 4), aimed at the trial supervisors. Further management forms were designed to facilitate monitoring of the trials and collection of data (see Appendix 1).
The selection of the trial areas and farmers was based on the recommendation of the ARPT staff in Mansa. Three areas were chosen for the trials: Chembe and Monga in Mansa District and Kalasamukoso in Samfya District (see map). The selection criteria were based on the tradition for rice or fish cultivation in the area. Chembe, close to Luapula River, is a rice producing area; in Monga a large proportion of the community are fish farmers, while Kalasamukoso is neither a fish nor a rice growing area. ARPT has agricultural officers working in the respective areas -- a factor that facilitated supervision of the trials.
Two or three farmers were selected in the three areas, and the purpose of the trial was explained. An important criterion for selecting the farmers was the interest they showed towards the trials. A few farmers left the trial because they found it too time-consuming. They were replaced wherever possible. Two farmers from Chembe, three from Monga and two from Kalasamukoso completed the trials.
The farmers were advised to construct two plots of 2 ares (10m×20m) each: one irrigated rice plot and one integrated rice and fish plot. In reality, there was some variation in plot sizes.
The traditional Supa rice variety was chosen for the trials in view of its long cycle (200 days) and its height (100 cm) -- two major criteria for rice and fish integration. Tilapia rendalli and Oreochromis macrochir were stocked in the ponds at a rate of 50 fingerlings per 100 m2 (i.e. 100 per pond) as these are species currently farmed in the Province.
The actual trials were not initiated simultaneously at the seven trial sites. They were started whenever the farmers found it suitable and water was sufficient. Land preparation (including tilling, levelling, constructing trenches and refuge holes, strengthening and raising the bunds) and nursery preparation for the rice seedlings took place between September and December, 1992. The rice was transplanted in December, a delay of 3–4 weeks because of drought. The fingerlings were stocked in mid-January. Rice and fish were all harvested around 1 June 1993, resulting in a growing season of between 6½ and 7½ months (the longest period was in Monga) for the rice and 4½ months for the fish.
