2. EFFORTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The expert worked in many fields of fisheries and fish culture development in Nepal to achieve long-lasting results. Efforts listed below are grouped according to the different types of work.

2.1 CONSTRUCTION

2.1.1 Fish Farms at Pipley and Bhandara, WFP Project Nepal 262

The Government of Nepal requested on 25 June 1965 WFP assistance for the construction of two fish farms at Pipley (Hetaura) and Bhandara in the Rapti River valley. The provision of food was requested for distribution as part payment of wages to workers who put in about 392 000 man/days of labour required for completing the construction of the above-mentioned fish farms. The survey and design of both farms was completed by Mr. K.K. Zwilling, FAO Inland Fish Culturist, and his local counterparts. Only some construction problems remained to be solved by the present expert.

The request was approved on 12 October 1966 and the agreement was signed on 3 March 1967 at a food cost to WFP of US$ 180 600 and a total of US$ 237 400.

The daily per caput ration per worker was 400 g of wheat flour, 50 g of edible oil, 45 g of dry skimmed milk powder (DSM) and 8 g of dried eggs. The labourers received rations for their family members calculated on an average of four-plus family members to one labourer. Consequently one man/day signified 2 kg wheat flour, 250 g edible oil, 225 g DSM and 40 g dried eggs, worth R 3.50 ¹.

The construction work started at Pipley in October 1967 and at Bhandara, 55 km from Pipley, in October 1969.

The expert was present at all important construction phases in the projects and advised and helped to solve the construction problems.

Certain modifications were considered necessary by the expert in the construction design as experience was gained. For instance, at Pipley, instead of constructing one deep (more than 2 m) production pond, as it was planned, two shallow (1.0–1.5 m average depth) ponds were constructed. So, instead of nine production ponds, 12 were constructed. Also, instead of two, four reservoirs were constructed with a total water area of 5 ha. These reservoirs are also used for growing fish without feeding. It was necessary to modify the breeding and rearing pond system because the planned construction site was termite-infested and a stable water level could not be kept in these small ponds. The planned length of the feeding canals was also modified. The main feeding canal was constructed of brick to avoid heavy leakage. Some innovations were also introduced by the expert, such as the fish-cum-duck culture, mixed fish culture, for increasing the animal protein production on a unit area. A small hatchery was constructed for modern propagation of different cultivated fish species.

At Bhandara the farm was totally redesigned, according to the expert's concept. The original plan of bringing water from the Lothar River branch through 8 km water canal had to be given up because of the flash floods in the area during the monsoon, which made construction impossible. Instead, water is provided through three reservoirs in the jungle during the rainy season and from the Dhumre River and through two old village canals from the Lothar River branch. These two canals can provide water throughout the year in limited quantity. Also introduced here was a unified form of inlet/outlet structure for which culverts were made of locally prefabricated pipes (inner diameter 40 cm).

The number, type and water area of ponds constructed, and various other works carried out on the two farm sites were as follows:

The production capacity of the farms was overestimated in the original plan when the assignment started. The production of the Pipley fish farm (production started in 1969) was between 12–21 t and now is increased due to more careful management and introduction of a mixed fish culture. The production capacity of the Pipley fish farm depends on different circumstances and factors: availability of fish feed; adapting the two, or one-and-half crop system instead of one crop per year; practising mixed fish culture; success of propagation and fingerling rearing; a free hand to market the fish when they are ready to sell; extending the fish-cum-duck culture on each production pond; solution of the wild fish invasion; improved fish culture management, etc., to mention only the important factors.

The problem of fish production is more complicated at the Bhandara farm. Due to the fact that a stable and sufficient water supply could not be obtained during the construction period, the fish production could not be extended to the whole constructed pond area and over the whole year. At present, water is guaranteed for only five or six months in 50 percent of the areas of production ponds. During the construction of dams the topsoil was removed on the inner area of the ponds, which makes for a higher degree of seepage. This seepage is making it difficult to keep water in the ponds longer than 1 to 1½ months after the rain stops. In the course of use of the ponds, new topsoil will develop and the upper layers of the ponds' bottom will become more compact, retarding seepage.

Market-sized fish can be raised in a fertile pond within six months in Nepal. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare everything so that this time span can be totally utilized for growing fish. In the dry season adequate grain plants should be cultivated in the ponds in order that the new topsoil will develop quickly in order to utilize the area and produce fish feed, as long as the problem of a stable and sufficient water supply for the ponds is not solved. The alternate fish and plant culture on the pond bottom is a well known practice in Europe. Here is an opportunity to experiment with this type of culture under Nepalese conditions.

Since the end of 1972 about 5–10 l/s river water is available on the farm in the dry season. This makes it possible to keep the brood fish for propagation.

In the balancing reservoirs constructed in the jungle water cannot be kept for a long time but the reservoirs are good for balancing out the floods, which could seriously endanger the farm.

As long as the final solution, the planned Lothar Irrigation Project canal will not supply water for the farm, other solutions can be sought as well. Since 1972 the branch of the Lothar River flowing along the farm has been permanently closed by a strong dam constructed near to the branching out site. Consequently this branch is no longer endangered by the flooding of the main river. This river branch became “tame” enough to construct on it a flat barrage (1–1.5 m high) with the necessary spillway about 1 000–1 200 m above the farm site to divert enough water into the farm canal. Another solution, in a few years when an electric line is installed along the farm, is a high capacity electric pump, which could supply enough water from the river to the farm.

Since production was started in 1971 on the Bhandara farm, only 5 to 7 t of fish are produced, due to the insufficient fingerling supply, lack of feeding and fertilizing and lack of experience of the management. The experience with the mixed culture of fish in 1973 has shown the advantages of this type of fish culture here.

2.1.2 Trout Hatchery-cum-Farm at Trisuli

The site of this project was preliminarily surveyed and the outline of the farm was drafted by the expert. The original idea was to use the cool water of the balancing reservoir of the Trisuli Hydroelectric Project, after adequate desiltation and filtering, to feed the stonewall ponds (17 in number, 100 m² each), which were considered to keep the brood stock of trout and local fishes. The water flow off from these ponds will be used for feeding the warm water ponds where common carp and herbivorous carp will be raised. The trout hatchery building which needs extremely clean water, can be fed with the water of a stable well (water temperature throughout the year is 20–21°C) on the farm area. This water should be cooled down by laying the iron water supply pipe into the bed of a small cool water stream flowing nearby.

The construction of the farm started on 31 March 1970 on 10 ha of acquired land. The construction costs were provided from the budget of the Department of Fisheries.

Constructed first were: the main stonewall feeding canal; the water diverting structure; 17 stonewall ponds; reverse water filter with 10–20 l filtering capacity; four small warm water ponds (total 2 700 m²); hatchery-office building; store, and manager's quarters. The farm is now almost ready for the start of production. Only minor changes and installations are needed and these have been already suggested to the farm management and other authorities. The small warm water ponds were stocked in summer 1973 and the carp there are growing well.

2.1.3 Central Hatchery at Balaju (Kathmandu Valley) TF/NEP - 7(FH)

The site of the project was preliminarily surveyed and the outline of the hatchery was made by the expert in 1968.

The original Project Proposal was drafted in December 1968. This proposal was worked out as an FFHC Project Request on the advice of FAO, asking for equipment and materials to the value of US$ 51 000 for furnishing the hatchery. The list of equipment and materials was submitted in February 1970. The project request was accepted by FAO in 1971 under the symbol TF/NEP-7 (FH) and the Fraternal Sharing Group (Deutsche Welthungerhilfe, Brot fur die Welt and Misereor, Federal Republic of Germany) adopted the project in January 1972.

The equipment and materials were ordered during 1972 and all the materials and items ordered were expected in Nepal by May 1974. The construction of the laboratory manager's quarters was started in April 1971. The land acquired is 4 ha in area. The construction of the reservoir and the earthen ponds for the brood fishes was also started in 1971.

The construction cost of the buildings, earthen and brick wall ponds, pipeline for the water supply, hatchery basins and fitting of pipes and taps, etc., were supplied from the government budget.

During 1972 only a minimal amount of construction was finished on the farm area. In 1973, 40-cm diameter, 1-m long pipes were cast and laid, with 250-m distance between the water source in the Balaju Garden and the reservoir. Great attention was paid to the construction of 14 brick wall ponds, each 300 m², which will be the nursery unit of the farm.

Two of these nursery ponds were used during the summer of 1973 for preliminary experiments on mixed fish culture, showing the possibility of experimentation in the ponds when the fish propagation and rearing season is over.

A hatchery basin system designed by the expert was built. It contains four basins (2.5 × 1.35 × 1 m) for keeping the injected brood fish, two twin-basins (6 m long, 1 + 1 m wide, 1 m deep each), places for 25 Zug-jars (incubation jars made of glass), and four conditioning basins (1.35 × 1.35 × 1 m). The pipes and taps providing water for the basins and incubation and rearing devices for the glass jars are already fitted. The reverse filter through which filtered water will be provided to the hatchery is under construction.

2.1.4 Breeding and Distributing Centre Biratnagar (Tarhara)

The expert surveyed the vicinity of the existing project for area extension in January 1969. The outline and rough design for the new ponds area was drawn up. He supervised the final design made in conjunction with the overseer of the Department of Fisheries. Due to the lack of time in 1970, it was not possible for him to supervise the construction work there. The construction of six breeding-nursing ponds (total area 3 600 m²) and two production ponds (0.78 ha each) were financed from the budget of the Department of Fisheries.

2.1.5 Fish Farm, Janakpur

Four breeding-nursing ponds were constructed on the farm to the expert's design. These ponds are easy to operate and are very successful for the spawning of common carp and nursing the fry.

2.1.6 Experience Gained during Construction of the Projects

i. Since water is ever short during the dry season and to prevent unnecessary seepage and leakage, and to increase the water transporting capacity of the canal, it is advisable to construct brick feeding canals above the ground. It is not necessary to construct them with sloping side walls. Canals with perpendicular side walls proved easier to build and to clean.

ii. To avoid the back-washing effect and damage to the structure itself by the inlet water, the area under the inlet structure has to be paved with stone or brick. A heap of stone placed under the inflowing water breaks its force and also prevents back-washing.

iii. Along the monk culvert, especially if it is made of smooth pipes or brick, greater seepage may occur. Along the culvert the crabs burrow more easily. To prevent that sort of seepage and leakage, the monks have to be constructed with wing walls. Behind the wingwall the earth has to be compacted well.

iv. It is not necessary to construct different types on sizes of structure for the different sizes of ponds. In a fish farm two types of unified monks and inlets are enough, one for the small ponds and one for the production ponds.

v. The 4-in wide cement-asbestos piping available in the local market in unsuited for monk culverts. It breaks easily or becomes clogged with drifted debris. The inlet pipes also have to be made from reinforced pipe.

vi. Almost every year dam erosion causes high repair expenditures. The common carp, with its rummaging habit, also contributes to the early damage of the dams of ponds. Crabs burrow long tunnels into the dams, sometimes causing serious leakage. To prevent easy erosion sloping dams (slope 1: 3: 1: 3.5) have to be constructed or, in case of small ponds, perpendicular brick walls proved good for this purpose. In the long run the construction of such a structure will pay back the investment costs.

vii. To construct deep ponds (over 2-m water depth) is not recommended, since they need very strong, well compacted high dams. The production in deep ponds is less than in ponds of normal (1–1.5 m) depth. The dark bottom water of the deep ponds, where no sunshine can penetrate, is totally unproductive from a biological point of view.

viii. Spawning-nursing ponds for common carp can be constructed easily on unused, deeper-lying paddy plots by digging out an 0.7–0.8 m deep and 3–4 m wide ditch along the main dam of the plot. At least 2–3 m wide ledge has to be left between the main dam and the fringe of the ditch. The earth from the ditch has to be used to strengthen the dams around the plot.

To gain sure spawning and good nursing results, the ditch has to be first filled up with water. When it is full the brood stock of common carp (two females and three males) has to be introduced into the ditch. The slow filling of the whole plot has to be continued afterwards and a stable water level has to be maintained. It is necessary that 25–30 cm deep water shall cover the shallowest parts of the plot. If there is natural grass on the shallow parts the carp will spawn on that. If the plot is bare, “kakabuns” are placed on the shallow parts. After spawning the brood fish retire to the ditch, from where they have to be netted out shortly after the spawning. In most cases the carp spawn within 48 hours after the filling of the plot.

ix. For fry-nursing purposes, it is advisable to construct elongated small ponds with wide, shallow shores around. For this purpose, the brick wall ponds seem to be better because around the pond walls 2–3 m wide shallow water shores can be constructed and maintained and these are the most important living place of the early fry and young fingerlings. This type of pond is easy to clean, handle and dry up when not used. Where the land is expensive, on the same plot of land 30–50 percent more water surface of brick wall ponds can be constructed than earthen dam ponds. Calculations have shown that, in the long run, brick wall ponds are slightly cheaper than earthen dam ponds.

x. In order to facilitate catching the advanced fry and early fingerlings, the nursery ponds have to be constructed with a cropping pit, made of bricks, on the outer side of the dam. The outlet culvert has to be formed in such a way that under this a net box can be fixed where the small fish assemble when the nursery pond is drained.

xi. To prevent the entry of wild fish into the ponds, village tanks, and reservoirs, stone chip (brick chip) filters can be constructed. The feeding canal has to be broadened three to five times wider than the original canal. Across the broadened part, between two wide mesh screens or between two rows of poles, the heap of the stone chips are placed to filter the water and keep back the wild fish. The filtering body is about 0.5–1 m wide. The broadening of the canal is necessary because the filter body keeps back the water. Making the filtering body three to five times wider than the original width of the canal permits the water to pass through maintaining the capacity of the canal.

xii. Special attention must be paid when constructing ponds in termite-infested areas. All of the water can leak off through the termite holes, spreading out through the soil, within a very short time. The only remedy is to dig very deep and wide core trenches and compact the soil very carefully before the dam is constructed.

¹ US$ 1.00 = R 10.

2.2 FISH CULTURE MANAGEMENT

The commercial fish farm at Pipley started production in 1969. The expert trained four successive managers and their assistants in fish culture practices and fish farm management (stocking of the ponds, calculation of the stocking rate, fertilizing, manuring, practical plankton investigation, to find out the necessity of fertilizing, feeding, preparation of fish food, control of food consumption, growth checks, harvesting, transport, storing, etc. Recommendations were drafted in 1971 concerning operation and management of the Pipley fish farm. Since 1973 a mixed fish culture has been operating and a plan of trials was drawn up to find out the best and cheapest way under local conditions to utilize best the benefits of the mixed fish culture.

A report was drafted for the authorities and for the farm managers in 1973 on estimation of the fish crop and feasibility of the double crop in the Pipley fish farm. As an experiment, some ponds were already partly cropped and restocked with stored fingerlings.

A plan of operation was drafted for the Bhandara fish farm, taking into account the present water supply situation. The authorities were advised to join the management of the two farms, Pipley and Bhandara, for the sake of sure fingerling supply, transport, feed supply, etc.

A plan of operation was designed with a timetable for the Parwanipur Breeding and Distributing Centre.

The expert also took every opportunity to advise his counterparts and managers of the fishery projects on management and fish farming operations.

For the sake of increasing the fingerling production capacity of the breeding and distributing centres and small farms, the expert advised a new distributing system and price policy for the common carp fingerlings. If this recommendation is followed it will be in the fish growers' interest to take the carp fingerlings as early as they can, consequently nursing ponds will be drained and refilled for the fry of the herbivorous and Indian major carp.

2.3 INTRODUCTIONS OF NEW FISH SPECIES

2.3.1 Herbivorous Carp

Two species of the herbivorous carp (Chinese major carp), the grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) and silver carp (Hypophtalmichtys molitrix) were introduced into Nepal in 1967 from India and in 1968 from Japan. They were quarantined at Godavari. The stock became ripe for propagation in 1970 and 1971. The originally introduced stock was very much diminished in number and the propagation, made by the local staff, achieved no success. Therefore, the Government requested a new introduction, to be complemented by the third species of the group: bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis). In the framework of the FFHC, the Hungarian National FFHC Committee donated the one-summer-old (2–6 g) fingerlings (800 bighead carp, 400 grass, 300 silver). The air transport cost (US$ 1 000) was provided by FAO/FFHC Subtrust Fund 4390. The consignment could not be transported in March 1972, when prepared, due to transport difficulties. It arrived 31 October 1972 (the symbol of the project was TF/NEP 12).

The herbivorous carp proved their growth capacity and usefulness in the first years, especially in the Terai area where the temperature is far higher than Godavari. The grass carp grew 2–2.8 kg, the silver carp 1–2.5 kg, in ten months in the Terai, when the population density was less than 500/ha. Around 1 000/ha silver carp have grown 0.7 kg, on average and 2 500/ha have grown 0.25 kg on average within seven months as a secondary crop stocked with 3 500–4 000 common carp fingerlings. The bighead carp, when introduced, weighing 5 g, have grown in the Terai 2.5–3 kg on average in one year.

Very promising introductory experiments were made in Balaju in the summer of 1973 when grass carp, silver carp, bighead carp and common carp were stocked together and fed with unlimited quantities of freshly cut grass only. All the fishes stocked produced an excellent growth due to the “manuring effect” of the well fed grass carp. The survival rate of the herbivorous carp fingerlings in the ponds at Pipley, when stocked at 7–10 cm in size, was near 100 percent.

Many trials in different project have shown that the best future of fish farming is the mixed culture of different fish species with different food habits instead of the monoculture of common carp.

2.3.2 Indian Major Carp

The expert urged the procurement of Indian major carp, which can be propagated in the same way and using the same equipment as the herbivorous carp, in order to extend the possibility of the mixed fish culture. The Indian major carp are very much liked and sought after in the Terai region. The Janakpur Fish Farm already has an initial stock for propagation trials.

2.3.3 Other Fish Species for Culture

Introduction of Tilapia species was thoroughly considered and it was decided not to introduce this species in Nepal due to their dangerously effective natural propagation. If they were to escape from the ponds, which could hardly be prevented, they might become a nuisance in the uncontrollable natural waters.

The introduction of other cultured fishes, such as perch pike (Lucioperca sandra) and/or large mouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) as carnivorous fishes in pond fish culture, for controlling the nuisance weed fishes, was considered as a possibility. In larger ponds it is difficult to control the propagation of the small weed fishes which hamper the production of the cultivated species, therefore, as a secondary crop, carnivorous fish fingerlings were stocked in such body size so as to be harmless to the cultivated species.

The preconditions for the culture of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) as intensively as in U.S.A. are not yet present in Nepal due to the lack of adequately high protein content feed.

2.3.4 Trout

In 1968 the expert accompanied Mr. R.B. Thapa, Director of the Department of Fisheries, on his study tour to Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh (India) on trout culture possibilities. Some basic investigations were made prior to the trip by the expert, concerning the adequacy of some temperate rivers of Nepal as a trout habitat.

The first consignment of 200 one-year old fingerlings of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) and brown trout (Salmo trutta) arrived in Nepal on 8 February 1969. The Indian Cooperation Mission donated the trout from Kashmir. The trout were quarantined in Godavari fish farm. In spite of difficulties in feeding, the trout have grown well and they have been propagated artificially with success since 1971.

The Indian Cooperation Mission again donated a new consignment of 300 brown trout fingerlings for stocking the tributaries of the Trisuli River. The consignment arrived in March 1973.

With the kind assistance of His Excellency T.J. O'Brien, Ambassador of the United Kingdom, the Government of Nepal received 10 000 eyed eggs of brown trout donated by the Crown Agents for Overseas Development Administration (London) in February 1973. About 9 000 of these eggs hatched and about 8 000 have developed as feeding fry. Most of them were transported to the Trisuli hatchery-cum-farm in the first days of May, where, due to a feeding fault and inexperience of the management, all died.

Since the introduction of the trout, repeated investigations have been made in different seasons of the rivers in the Trisuli, Pokhara and Sunkosi areas, with regard to their suitability as habitat for the trout. Investigation has shown that natural food is plentiful in the rivers throughout the year, they can find shelter when floods occur with very turbid water. It is most probable that the trout will thrive well in many of the temperate rivers in Nepal and they may propagate successfully there.

The preconditions for production of table trout for the market by pond culture are not yet available in Nepal, due to the lack of animal protein ingredients in the necessary artificial feed.

2.4 ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION

2.4.1 Common Carp

Until the expert's arrival the common carp, the only cultivated fish in Nepal, was propagated naturally. For the sake of better propagation results, he introduced the artificial propagation technique, which he had previously worked out. Instead of glass incubation jars, which are not available in Nepal or in India, incubation jars, which are not available in Nepal or in India, incubation “jars” were made from clay, or from plastic sheeting stitched into funnel shapes. The funnel-shaped incubation “jars” of plastic sheeting have proved especially good for the incubation of the common carp eggs. Sieve-cloth walled funnels of a small size (90–130 cm circumference) also proved efficient for this purpose.

The artificial propagation of common carp was carried out in Godavari and Parwanipur in 1968–69 and at Pipley fish farm annually between 1970–73. A small experimental hatchery was established for this purpose at Pipley.

Although the artificial propagation of the common carp is not generally practised, this technique has its advantages and these can be exploited very well in up-to-date hatcheries. Many fishery technicians in the country have been trained in the technique of artificial propagation of common carp.

2.4.2 Herbivorous Carp

The herbivorous carp, grass and silver carp, were first successfully propagated by the expert in Nepal in 1972. For the artificial propagation of these fishes, which otherwise do not propagate in ponds, the expert designed and prepared the necessary egg incubation and larvae-rearing devices. The fingerlings of the first year propagation were distributed in all breeding and distributing centres and farms, as well as to private fish growers.

The nursing of the early fry to fingerlings was not successful enough due to the lack of good nursery facilities.

The second-year propagation of these fishes was satisfactorily accomplished, especially in the Pipley farm, where from two females (5 and 7 kg) more than 45 000 7–10 cm long fingerlings were raised.

In the interests of extending the artificial propagation technique of the herbivorous carps in all the fishery projects, the expert organized with his counterpart a short course on this topic at Godavari in May 1973.

Fifty incubation and 50 larvae-rearing devices were made for the projects according to the expert's design and under his supervision.

For the sake of successful propagation of the herbivorous carp and Indian major carp in the projects, the expert designed hatchery basins for the Balaju Central Hatchery, Pipley fish farm and Bhairawa, Parwanipur and Janakpur projects, utilizing in all places the local possibilities of stable water supply and smooth operation.

There were 1 200 pieces of preserved fish pituitary glands, indispensable for the artificial propagation of fishes, already provided from Hungary by the expert for use in 1974. For future years, as long as Nepal is unable to produce fish pituitary gland preparations, an FFHC project proposal was drafted for FAO in order to solve this important problem of artificial fish propagation.

2.4.3 Mahaseer (Tor tor)

Trials were made to discover the propagation possibilities and the probable artificial propagation of the indigenous mahaseer. It was found that the mahaseer also becomes ripe for induced propagation in confined ponds. By administering pituitary gland extract to the ripe fish, sexual products (eggs and milt) can be gained. The fertilized eggs of the mahaseer are non-sticky, hard and heavy, so called rolling eggs, which can be incubated in funnels used for incubating other fish eggs. The water temperature has to be less than 26°C for the incubation of mahaseer eggs. It was not possible to repeat the experiments in the 1973 breeding season. The expert's conviction, founded on experience gained during his stay in Nepal, is that the mahaseer and the other near-related indigenous species can be propagated successfully in hatcheries.

2.5 EXTENSION OF FISH PROPAGATION WORK ON EXISTING PROJECTS

Since the artificial propagation of the herbivorous carps succeeded and the fish growers became acquainted with the high qualities of these fishes, the demand for such fingerlings has increased very rapidly. There is also a high demand for the fingerlings of Indian major carp. The expert proposed in 1972 to extend the production of fingerlings into the paddies with the use of facilities for artificial propagation and rearing of the offspring of these fish.

Prior to this proposal, the first step was to work out a propagation technique and suitable devices applicable under local conditions. At first a hatchery basin system was constructed in the Pipley farm and the experience gained there was used for the development of a generally usable warm water hatchery.

In the hatchery there are basins (2.5 × 1.3 × 1 m) with running water for keeping the injected brood fish. To prevent injuries, jumping and escape of the brood fish they are kept in a “hapa” (a box 2 × 1 × 1 m made of synthetic sieve cloth material with lid) fixed in the basin. The common carp brood is not necessarily kept in a hapa. The handling technique of the brood by stripping was also developed.

Incubation devices were developed, which can be made from locally available materials, for the incubation of the fertilized eggs and rearing the larvae up to the feeding stage. For maintaining and handling the incubation and larvae rearing devices, so-called twin basins were developed, consisting of a cement tank divided in half lengthwise by a separating wall. The tank measures 6 m long, 1.1m wide and 1 m deep. The separating wall is only 0.9 m high, making it possible for the freshly hatched larvae to swim out of the incubation device, spill over the separating wall and assemble in the larvae-rearing device in the opposite basin. The water supply of each device is from a separate tap.

After having a basic type of hatchery basin, designs were made by the expert for the special conditions of the projects at Bhairawa (overhead aeration tank was designed because the artesian water, otherwise good for incubation, has no dissolved oxygen). At Parwanipur, because of low pressure and the debris content of the running water, a small balancing and filtering tank was designed. At Janakpur the artesian water has to be stored in a storing pond (900 m²) and through filter drums have to be provided into the pipe line of the hatchery basins. At Godavari and Pipley, twin basins will be constructed in the interest of making the incubation of eggs and larvae-rearing more easy, failure-proof and efficient.

The common shortage of many fishery projects is the shortage of nursery ponds because at the propagation stage most of the ponds are occupied by the common carp fingerlings. It is the main bottleneck in the fingerling production of the different cultivated fish species. Suggestions were made by the expert to shift the common carp fingerling production step by step to the farmers and to increase the nursing area where it is possible. Another proposition was to construct the nursery ponds with brick walls and so increase the useful water surface against the surface of the separating dike, which is very large in the case of small earthen ponds.

2.6 FISH-CUM-DUCK CULTURE

The expert recommended the introduction of fish-cum-duck culture for the Pipley fish farm in August 1968.

Seven hundred one-day-old ducklings and 200 fertilized duck eggs, all from an excellent fast-growing, meaty type Peking duck strain, arrived in Nepal in April 1970 as a donation from the Hungarian National FFHC Committee. The transport cost US$ 790 was provided by the FFHC (the code of the project was TF/NEP 10 FH).

The ducklings were raised under the supervision of the expert at the Pipley farm. The 700 ducks have grown and the average weight of the 63-days-old fowl was 1.88 kg. Because the stunted and injured birds were not sorted out, the average weight was low. Otherwise, 80 percent of the birds weighed between 2.2–2.4 kg. Out of these the brooders were selected. For 1 kg weight increase, 3.66 kg food were used, mostly waste condemned maize.

Massive egg-laying started only in December (it was delayed intentionally by keeping the brooders on a protein-poor diet and without night illumination because the incubators had not arrived in time). The egg-laying of the ducks was very promising and up to the moulting period, in May, an average of 97 eggs were laid per bird. The capacity of the incubators procured was not enough for the number of selected brooders (210 ducks and 52 drakes), therefore most of the eggs were sold in the market for consumption and to farmers for incubation. Due to the lack of incubator capacity (at one time only 1 100 eggs could be incubated) and the poor quality of the incubators, only about 1 200 ducklings hatched. The farm was not equipped with adequate duckling nursing facilities. In spite of makeshift arrangements, the nursing of early ducklings was successful. The expert prepared pamphlets in 1973 on subjects ranging from the rearing of the ducklings to the marketing of ducks and concerning the incubation technique for eggs in an attempt to extend the knowledge of the farm personnel on duck culture.

Between May 1971 and January 1973 the fish-cum-duck culture in the Pipley farm could not evolve to such an extent as the promising experiences of the first year had indicated.

In January 1973 a new plan of operation was worked out by the expert, which was carried through by the new manager (the brood stock was severely sorted out and replaced, feeding was systematically organized, drinking water was provided for night, etc.). As a result of the measures introduced, egg-laying started and did not cease throughout the whole year. A young brood stock of 140 female ducks had laid an average of 45 eggs during three months in 1973 (one egg each second day) and the egg-laying is going on successfully. This example shows that the fish-cum-duck culture and the meat type duck culture itself remained a promising means to increase the animal protein production in Nepal.

Because the demand for the improved meat type Peking ducklings increased so much, it was decided to develop a duckling distributing centre at the Pipley farm. To overcome the first problem of this plan an FFHC project was drafted and sent to FAO requesting up-to-date duck incubators and accessories to the value of US$ 12 200. The request under the code TF/NEP 11 (FH) is now being processed.

When the requested incubators arrive the above-mentioned plan can be fulfilled. The duck brood stock will be increased up to 1 000 (800 female, 200 male) and an up-to-date nursing pen has to be constructed for the early ducklings.

The fourth generation of the introduced ducks has retained the good qualities (growth, egg-laying capacity) of their ancestors, sometimes despite hard circumstances, and proved their advantages over the local duck strain.

2.7 SURVEY WORK

The expert was asked to survey the site of a new commercial farm area at Sunsari for providing fish for Biratnagar, the second biggest town of Nepal, and a hatchery-farm area near Rajbiraj. The survey was made with the construction supervisor of the Department of Fisheries. The outline of the projects was drafted by the expert and worked out in detail by the overseer.

The expert surveyed the site of the Balaju Central Hatchery and the site of Trisuli hatchery-farm. An aereal survey was made in the East Nepal Jhapa area and in Pokhara Valley to find a site for a hatchery-farm.

The village tanks and reservoirs were surveyed in eastern Terai with regard to their suitability for intensive fish culture. These bodies of water are suitable for intensive fish culture if they are cleaned of noxious wild fishes and simple structures are constructed to prevent new wild fish invasion. The total area of these water bodies can be estimated at over 2 000 ha in Nepal. The expert has written a pamphlet with 10 illustration on “Fish Culture in Undrainable Village Tanks and Reservoirs” (1973) for translation and printing in Nepali. The typescript was handed over to the Information Section of the Agriculture Department.

The expert drafted a recommendation to utilize these water bodies for intensive fish culture by organizing the local fishermen into fishermen's cooperatives.

2.8 PROJECT PROPOSALS PREPARED

During his assignment the expert drafted many project proposals for assistance, of which some were accepted, others not. The project proposals prepared are listed below.

1. Proposal to construct a Central Hatchery at Balaju, Kathmandu Valley, (1968) became an FFHC project, FH/NEP 7. The construction of the building and ponds started in March 1971.

2. Fishery and Fish Culture Development Project for the Pokhara area. Proposed UNDP/SF project drafted in 1970 (not accepted).

3. WFP project proposal “Construction of a Fish Farm at Sunsari and Breeding and Distributing Centre at Rajbiraj”. The proposal was submitted on 20 February 1972 and accepted as a possible project under the code WFP, Nepal 799. However, after some time it was discovered that there was a delay in the completion of the Chatra Canal, from which the stable water supply source for the Sunsari farm was planned. Therefore, it was decided to partition the project into WFP assistance in the first stage and only the construction of the Rajbiraj part of the project was requested. The impact of the Rajbiraj part of the project will be very significant, especially for the utilization of village tanks and reservoirs for intensive fish culture. The Rajbiraj Hatchery-Farm is planned to produce fingerlings of common carp, herbivorous carp, and Indian major carp. When it is ready, the fingerling production capacity will be 5 to 8 million fish fry and fingerlings per year.

4. Interrelated Fish and Fishery Culture Development Project proposal made in 1970/71. The proposal was submitted to NORAD for consideration but was not accepted.

5. Draft Project Proposal: Fich Culture Development Project, Nepal. The project proposal included: one research and training centre, six commercial fish farms, three hatchery-farms, two trout hatcheries, three duck hatcheries and rearing units, five retail shops, and the construction of a 200-ha pond area for farmers. It was planned to request a World Bank loan of US$ 2 000 000. (The project was only discussed and the final proposal was not worked out in detail.)

6. Comprehensive Fishery and Fish Culture Development Project for Pokhara Area (1973). A request for UNDP/Least Developed Countries funds was made for US$ 650 000. The project includes lake and river fishery development, trout fishery development in the temperate rivers, pond and paddy fish culture development, further establishment of boatbuilding and fishing gear workshops, experimental fish processing laboratory, transport, cold store and a laboratory for fisheries biological investigation of the natural waters of Nepal. Due to the lack of funds, the project was not accepted but at present it is under consideration as a bilateral aid project.

   On behalf of lake fishery development, which is in a sort of declining stage at present, a draft analysis was made of feasibilities and recommendation with the title: “Lake Fishery and Fish Culture Development in the Pokhara Valley and Its Vicinity”. It recommends construction of a hatchery-farm on the shores of the Phewa Lake to produce enough culture fish fingerlings for mass stocking in the lakes and starting the propagation of valuable indigenous fishes as well. The project can be constructed on the pattern of the Balaju or Rajbiraj projects.

7. FFHC project request for duck egg incubators and generator, 1973, US$ 12 200 TF/NEP 11 (FH). The project is already accepted and a donor is sought.

8. FFHC project request for preserved fish pituitary glands for artificial propagation of different fish species. The Hungarian FAO National Committee considered a proposal to provide preserved fish pituitary glands for Nepal at a very low price, less than the cost of production. It is requested that 3 000 pituitary glands per year be provided annually for a five-year period at a cost of US$ 300 per year. The total international funds required are US$ 1 500. Because reliable preserved pituitary glands are difficult to obtain and, if the project is accepted, Hungary will surely provide the glands for Nepal.

9. FFHC provided US$ 1 000 in 1973 for the technical and language editing of the manual “Elementary Guide to Fish Culture in Nepal” written by the expert during his term in Nepal. It will be printed as a Manual.

10. Two FFHC projects TF/NEP 10 (FH) and TF/NEP 12 (FH) were successfully executed. Nepal received 700 one-day-old ducklings and 200 fertilized duck eggs to start a fish-cum-duck culture at the Pipley fish farm (see Section 6).

11. Through the other FFHC project TF/NEP 12 (FH), Nepal was provided with 800 bighead carp, 400 grass carp and 300 silver carp fingerlings. This project makes it possible to extend the variety of cultured fish species and to gain far higher fish crops by using the mixed culture technique (see Section 3).

2.9 TRAINING

The expert advised and trained most of the Nepalese technicians working in fisheries whenever there was an opportunity to do so. He advised the construction supervisors on how to design and construct special fishery structures according to the special requirements and how to design fish hatcheries and farms.

Managers of the fish farms and breeding and distributing centres were trained in the different fish culture operations. The artificial propagation of common carp and the herbivorous carps has been demonstrated and training for the managers and technicians was carried out for the projects where such propagations were executed.

A training and demonstration course was organized on the artificial propagation of herbivorous carp for six junior fishery officers at Godavari fish farm in May 1973. The instructional material for the course was reproduced and distributed among the participants and to interested projects. A 24-hour theoretical lecture course on “Fish Culture and Fish Culture Extension” was given for 45 agriculture extension technicians within the framework of an upgrading course in 1973. The abbreviated material of the lectures was translated into Nepali and reproduced.

The expert had planned since 1970 to organize courses on fish culture and fish farm management for the fishery officers and junior technicians. Funds from the UNDP office in Kathmandu, equipment and materials were procured for the courses which were planned to be repeated yearly. Outlines of the lectures and practical demonstrations were also worked out. In spite of all these time-consuming preparations and the acknowledgement of their necessity and usefulness from the counterparts'side, it was not possible to organize such courses.

The expert prepared a fish culture manual “Elementary Guide to Fish Culture in Nepal” with 50 illustrations. FFHC provided US$ 1 000 for technical and language editing to be done by Mr. V. Gopalakrishnan, Senior Fishery Scientist, Central Inland Fishery Research Institute, Barrackpore, India. The manual will be published by FAO.

2.10 ASSESSMENT OF FISH CONSUMPTION AND FISHERY STATISTICS

The expert was asked to estimate the fish catches and consumption and provide fishery statistical data.

The task was difficult because no data were available concerning fishing activity and fish catch, and marketed or consumed fish. First the length and size of the rivers had to be assessed in order to estimate the potential fish catch.

The surface of the natural waters was estimated as 36 260 ha. The surface of the village tanks, reservoirs and other man-made undrainable water vessels, adequate for fish culture although intensive fish culture is not practised in them yet, is about 2 000 to 2 500 ha. Inundated paddy (rice) fields are estimated at 1 000 000 ha. Fish ponds (both drainable and undrainable) and tanks used for more or less intensive fish culture can be estimated at 550 to 600 ha.

No data were able to be collected concerning the paddy-cum-fish culture areas.

The natural waters can be grouped as follows:

Premises upon which to estimate the fish consumption:

1. Fish is very highly esteemed in Nepal by all sections of the population.

2. Most farmers and peasants living along rivers have some sort of fishing gear, such as castnets, lifting nets, or home-made hooks.

3. According to statistical data in Nepal, there are 35 160 fishermen's households, whose members from six years upwards, know how to catch fish and how to make simple fishing gear. (Not all the fishermen in this “caste” earn their living from fishing, but most of them catch fish when there is an opportunity.)

4. There are 528 households living on fish culture.

5. The children of poor families of the villages are very enterprising “fishermen”, who catch with skill the smallest fish for domestic consumption. There are many unemployed persons who use the opportunity to fish by hook or loop.

6. In some hilly areas there are certain well defined traditions of the villagers, i.e. once a week the whole community goes fishing (mostly by intoxicating the entire fish population of the small rivers with the juice of the Polygonum or other plants).

7. In the Terai during the rainy season, the women of the village communities always carry a small elongated-shape fish basket bound to their waist and catch fish on the flood inundated areas whenever an opportunity is given. They collect the smallest fish and mollusks as well.

8. On market days in most villages and towns in the Terai area, fish are usually sold in many sizes and quality. In many shops dried or smoked fish can be seen for sale.

9. It is most probable that the villagers, especially in the Terai area, eat more fish than the town dwellers.

The fish catch in Nepal was estimated as follows:

¹ According to the catch estimation.
² Rough estimation according to the area of tanks and reservoirs and length and size of the rivers.
³ Very rough estimation gained from some sample assessments.
⁴ Estimated from the number of distributed fish fingerlings.

2.11 OTHER ACTIVITIES

The expert accompanied Mr. R.B. Thapa, Director of the Department of Fisheries, to take part in a study tour in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, India, for the study of trout culture possibilities (13 to 29 October 1968).

While participating in the FAO/UNDP Regional Seminar on Induced Breeding of Cultivated Fishes, Calcutta, Cuttack, Bombay, 15 July – 18 August 1969, he lectured on “Artificial Propagation of Common Carp and Hatcheries for Common Carp”.

FAO was represented by the expert at the “Symposium on Aquaculture as an Industry” during the Silver Jubilee of the Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute in Barrackpore, India, in November 1972. Two studies were prepared for the Symposium, “Artificial Propagation of Chinese Major Carps Under Primitive Conditions” and “A General Lay-out of a Warm Water Fish Hatchery”.

The expert participated in the EIFAC Workshop on Controlled Reproduction of Cultivated Fishes in Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany, 21–25 May 1973 and lectured on “The Role of Induced Breeding in Fish Culture Development”.