6. PROPOSALS FOR ACTION

6.1 The Opportunity

6.1.1 Development and expansion of fish culture appears to be one of the most promising ways of bridging the gap between the present supplies of and the potential demand for animal protein foods. Systems of culture exist that would be appropriate to the soil and water conditions and to the way of life of the small-scale farmers, who are indeed already familiar with fish farming and express keen interest in its possibilities.

6.1.2 The farmers need help and support of various kinds to ensure success and make the effort of rehabilitating ponds and constructing new ones worthwhile, as is indicated below.

6.1.3 As will also be shown below, fish farming can provide a readily-available additional supply of animal protein foodstuffs to the farming family as well as a potential source of extra cash income, without affecting to an unacceptable extent other productive activities; indeed, the immediate benefits in food and income would be greater than for most other crops.

6.2 Objectives

6.2.1 The development programme should be undertaken with the following long-term objectives:

1. to help meet the nutritional demands of the increasing population;

2. to help diversify and intensify food production by small-scale farmers;

3. to raise rural incomes;

4. to generate rural employment.

6.2.2 The short-term objectives should be:

1. to restore the level of production of fish by small-scale farmers to 180 t/year;

2. to achieve a rate of increase of production thereafter of, e.g., 10 percent/annum;

3. to improve the productivity of fish farming in rural ponds in terms of land usage and labour inputs;

4. to create a permanent technical capability in Rwanda in the field of aquaculture so as to ensure that levels of production and productivity achieved in the course of the programme can be maintained, and that they can be increased or improved as may be seen to be necessary and desirable.

6.3 Outline and Justification of Proposed Programme

6.3.1 A four-year programme of development is proposed. In the early stages, existing ponds would be rehabilitated and a beginning made on constructing new ponds and bringing them into production; also the total area of pond cultivated by the average family participating in the programme would be enlarged. Progressively, the productivity of the ponds would be improved by introducing the use of fertilizers and by introducing the practice of supplementary feeding.

6.3.2 In order to implement such a programme and ensure a high probability of a successful outcome, it is necessary to provide encouragement, technical advice and demonstration and training; it is also necessary to produce and organize the distribution of fingerlings, fertilizers and supplementary feeds, and to provide technical support through a modest programme of directly relevant research and development. The Government would have to take the initiative and provide the impetus in the early stages; the provision of extension services and other supporting activities would have to be undertaken through the public service. The Government should seek international assistance in carrying out the programme through the mechanism of a development project.

6.3.3 The prefectures benefiting from the project activities would be the seven in which there is greatest apparent need to increase the supply of animal protein food stuffs: Kigali, Gitarama, Butare, Gikongoro, Ruhengeri, Byumba and Kubungo.

In 1978 there were 2 296 ponds in these seven prefectures, with a total area of 5 158 ares which produced 9.3 tons of fish at an average yield of 0.18 t/ha/year (Table 5). During the first year of the programme, four-fifths of these ponds should be rehabilitated, enlarged and restocked, and new ponds constructed, making 1 922 modernized ponds in all, with a total area of 6 750 ares. These ponds can be expected to produce over 30 tons of fish by the end of the first year, at an average yield of 0.5 t/ha/ year (Table 8). The area of the average pond would have been increased from 2.25 to 3.5 ares; the number of new ponds would be increasing by 3 to 5 percent/annum.

By the end of the fourth year (Table 9) the number of ponds would be 2 334, with a total area of 11 670 ares. Yields can be expected to increase to 1.5 t/ha/year, giving a total production of 175 tons of fish in the fourth year.

This takes no account of any additional production that may occur as a result of emulation or adoption by other farmers, not participating in the official programme, of the methods disseminated through the activities of the project.

6.3.4 By the end of the fourth year, the average family participating in the programme would be operating a pond or ponds with an area of 500 m² and producing 75 kg of fish a year. If the average selling price is assumed to be Rw.F. 75/kg (a modest assumption: see 4.1.4 above), then the total value of the annual production of the average family pond would be Rw.F. 5 625. However, some, perhaps most, of the fish produced would be consumed on the farm. If the average farmer and his family consumed 45 kg (equivalent to slightly less than 10 kg per caput/ year), then cash income from sale of the remainder would be Rw.F. 2 250 for the year. The inputs required would be fingerlings for initial stocking of the pond, family labour and agricultural wastes. It will be argued later below (Chapters 7 and 9) that the provision of these inputs will not be especially onerous or raise any special difficulties, while the returns would be higher in relation to the resources employed than for almost any other crop suitable for the same land.

6.3.5 The programme should, therefore, produce an additional 166 t/year of fish by the fourth year, representing an increase in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of over Rw.F. 12 million. This takes no account of the multiplier effect - the example of successful units inducing non-participants to start fish farms of their own.

6.3.6 As far as can be foreseen at present, fish production by aquaculture should be capable of expansion by about 10 percent/annum for some years after the end of the project without encountering constraints such as scarcity of land or other inputs, provided that the extension services and other forms of support recommended below are maintained and fully active.

6.4 Government Action

6.4.1 In order to carry the above programme to a successful conclusion and meet the proposed objectives, the Government would have to undertake a number of actions. These include recruiting, training, equipping and employing a much enlarged aquaculture extension service; reinforcing the national centre for aquaculture and the prefectural fish breeding stations and equipping them to provide supplies of fingerlings of the recommended species and to act as demonstration centres and sources of technical advice; and carrying out research and development in direct support of the programme. The Government must also, by persuasion and promotional activities, gain acceptance for the programme, induce individual farmers to participate and local communities to cooperate, and popularise the consumption of fish.

6.4.2 Extension service

(i) Nine agronomists at A-2 level would be required for the proposed programme: two at the Kigembe station (one as head of the station and programme leader; one as a senior instructor); each of the other seven would be responsible for managing one of the prefectural breeding stations, and for the technical supervision of the field extension workers (moniteurs) in his prefecture. These nine staff should receive training from international experts at the Kigembe station at the beginning of the project. Their training should be of a practical nature and should last for 5 or 6 months.

Table 8

Fish Culture Programme at the End of the First Year

Notes: ^a It is expected that after the first year of the project 80 percent of the existing ponds will have been rehabilitated, and stocked with fingerlings

^b Estimates, taking into account percentage of inhabitants involved in fish farming in each prefecture, situation of existing ponds and number of extension workers assigned to each prefecture

^c Estimated as follows: average area of one pond is 3 ares in the prefectures of Kigali, Gitarama, Gikongoro, Ruhengeri and Kibungo; 4.5 and 5 ares respectively in the prefectures of Butare and Byumba

^d Production based on an average yield of 5 kg fish/are/year (or 500 kg/ha/year)

^e Calculation based on a stocking rate of two Tilapia nilotica fingerlings per m², or 200 fingerlings/are

Table 9

Expected Increase during a 4-Year Extension Programme

Notes: ^a It is assumed that after the first year of the project 80 percent of the existing ponds will have been rehabilitated, and stocked with fingerlings

^b Estimated as follows: average area of one pond is 3 ares in the prefectures of Kigali, Gitarama, Gikongoro, Ruhengeri and Kibungo; 4.5 and 5 ares respectively in the prefectures of Butare and Byumba

^c Production targets are as follows: first year, 5 kg fish/are/year; second year, 7 kg fish/are/year; third year, 10 kg fish/are/year; fourth year, 15 kg fish/are/year

^d Annual increase is assumed to be 5 percent

^e Estimated as follows: average area of one pond is 3 ares in the prefectures of Ruhengeri and Kibungo; 3.5 ares in the prefecture of Gikongoro; 4 ares in the prefecture of Kigali, and 5 ares respectively in the prefectures of Butare and Byumba

^f Annual increase is assumed to be 10 percent

^g It is assumed that the surface of all the ponds is 5 ares (= 500 m²)

(ii) During the four years of the project, sixty field extension workers (moniteurs piscicoles) should be trained 15 to 20 at a time in courses lasting four months. They should be recruited from people who have a primary education followed by several years of intermediate vocational training at a Rural Training Centre; they should be able to read and write Kinyarwanda and preferably should understand some French.

Each moniteur piscicole should be equipped with a bicycle or motor bicycle; protective boots; survey tape; mason's level; pegs and cord; note books; ruler; pencils, etc.; spring balance (to 10 kg); bucket; scoop net; beach seine (10 m) and cast net; audio-visual and other aids to disseminate information; including slide projector, portable screen, slides, portable generator or other source of power, booklets, posters, etc.

The duties of the moniteur piscicole would include:

• familiarizing himself with the parts of his district that have been identified (by expert survey, water flow measurements and soil analysis, if necessary) as suitable for fish farming;

• identifying farming families willing to participate in the project;

• advising and assisting in pond layout, construction, liming, etc.;

• arranging for supply of fingerlings and stocking of ponds;

• demonstrating and monitoring culture operations;

• arranging for supplies of fertilizer and feed as may be decided;

• advising and assisting at harvest, and in marketing of surplus;

• recording inputs and outputs;

• providing feed-back information to the prefectural centre regarding results, problems and attitudes;

• assist in passing on requests and suggestions from local to prefectural level;

• assist in applications for and distribution of any subsidies or other assistance available;

• carrying out local promotional activities for fish consumption and fish farming.

6.4.3 Fish breeding stations

1. As already mentioned (5.4.3 above) ponds at the breeding stations are too large. Ponds for fingerling production should be around 100 to 400 m² each.

2. Facilities at Kigembe will have to be extended and upgraded to accommodate the training courses for moniteurs piscicoles. A dormitory block (100 m²), a kitchen (40 m²) and a hall (80 m²) to serve as a refectory, classroom and recreational space will be needed.

6.4.4 Fingerling production

One of the main bottlenecks in development of aquaculture in Rwanda is the all-year round availability of fingerlings of suitable fast growing species for pond culture. At present only few fingerlings of T. rendalli and T. macrochir are available at the Kigembe Centre.

Tilapia nilotica is recommended as the main species, and breeding ponds should be stocked, in monoculture, at a density of 2 fingerlings/m² (or 200 fingerlings/are). The number of T. nilotica fingerlings required during the first year of the project in each prefecture are given in Table 10. The fingerling requirements for the four years of the proposed programme are indicated in Table 9.

Fingerlings of other species, required for polyculture, will have to be produced in due course as and when systems suitable for Rwandan conditions are identified by practical trial and demonstration.

Table 10

Requirement for Fingerlings and Corresponding Pond Area First Year of Programme

Notes: ^a Fingerling requirements: calculations based on a stocking rate of two Tilapia nilotica fingerlings/m²

^b Number of T. nilotica females needed to produce the required fingerlings

^c Number of T. nilotica males according to a ratio of 1 male for 2 females

^d Number of fingerlings calculated as follows: from each female one obtains annually 2 000 fry. With a 10 percent mortality rate during a two-months rearing period about 1 800 fingerlings per female will be available for stocking purposes

6.4.5 Research and development

It will be desirable to carry out simple practical trials of the following aquaculture techniques: (i) polyculture in ponds of Tilapia nilotica, T. rendalli, T. melanopleura and T. macrochir at different densities with artificial feeds and fertilization of ponds; (ii) polyculture in ponds of T. nilotica + T. rendalli + T. macrochir + Clarias mossambicus (as predator) with artificial feeds and fertilization of the ponds; (iii) trials, in polyculture, of application of lime at different rates; (iv) trials, in polyculture, of application of compost; (v) trials, in polyculture, of application of inorganic fertilizers such as triple superphosphate, ammonium sulphate and urea; (vi) trials concerning associated animal husbandry (fish-cum-pig culture, fish-cum-duck culture and fish-cum-chicken culture). These trials should be carried out at Kigembe or other suitable locations within easy access, as may be decided after consultation between the national programme leader and the international experts attached to the project.

The results of these investigations should be demonstrated and introduced to rural fish farmers as and when seems opportune and desirable.

6.4.6 Administrative and practical support

In the early stages of the programme, special provision may have to be made for procurement and delivery of certain inputs and for marketing of the produce until a sufficient number of farmers have adopted the improved technique to justify the establishment of permanent fullscale arrangements: for example, procurement of certain types of material for supplementary feeds, or marketing of a large crop of fish at a reasonable price. In these early stages, the programme may need additional temporary assistance (short-term consultancies), financial assistance or special facilities to ensure that the innovation does not fail because the fullscale system of support and marketing does not yet exist; the extension workers will also need official backing at senior level to overcome unforeseen administrative problems.

6.4.7 Promotional activities

1. The consumption of fish should be encouraged through local demonstrations, publicity, inclusion of fish in the diets in residential schools, training centres, hospitals, the armed forces and so on.

2. Fish farming should likewise be publicised; it should be included as a subject in the curricula of schools, youth training centres and so on.

3. Provision should be made for such activities in the course of the four-year programme and an official of the Ministry designated as responsible for their effective execution.

4. The Government, and the official responsible, should however, bear in mind that premature publicity can be counter-productive. There is no point in advertising fish unless it is available. There is even less point in advocating allocation of land and effort to fish farming unless and until it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of small-scale farmers that it is worth their while. The official responsible for promotional activities should therefore liaise closely with those responsible for the development programme and should coordinate his activities with those of the project, timing them according to the progress actually achieved.

6.5 International Technical Assistance

6.5.1 The services of at least two international experts in aquaculture should be provided for the duration of the project. One would concern himself mainly with training fingerling production and experimental trials, the other with the activities of the field extension workers. Both should have experience of fresh water aquaculture in tropical Africa and a record of achievement in their respective fields. They should preferably be fluent in French.

6.5.2 To assist in the field programme and in the popularisation of fish in the diet and of fish farming, the services of a number of international volunteers or associate experts financed by their home governments under the auspices of the project should be sought.

6.5.3 The project budget should also include provision for consultancies in order to provide appropriate expertise required only for short periods; to enable any unforeseen technical problems to be overcome; and to facilitate the exploitation of unforeseen opportunities. A total of say sixteen three-month consultancies should be provided for.

6.5.4 Considerable flexibility will have to be provided in the work plan and budget to allow for various possible developments that practical experience may indicate to be necessary or desirable; for example, for pond construction in some types of peat; pond fertilization; processing and transport of supplementary feeds; acquisition of brood stock, fry or eggs of various species; investigation and development of various systems of culture that may be recommended or seen to be worthy of trial at the time. See 6.4.6 above.