The ADCP mission had the following members: Mr. K.H. Alikunhi (Fresh water Aquaculturist), Mr. H.L. Cook (Brackish water Aquaculturist), Mr.J. Kövári (Aquaculture Engineer), and Mr. U.N. Wijkström (Economist and Team Leader). Dr. T.V.R. Pillay, ADCP Programme Leader, participated in reviewing the Mission's findings and in discussions with officials of the Government, FAO and the United Nations Development Programme for one week. Mr. I. Sobhan of the FAO Investment Centre, joined the Mission for two weeks to investigate investment potential.
The Mission's task was to prepare a strategic plan for aquaculture development and to identify a policy framework, and initial activities, for its implementation. The Mission's detailed terms of reference are given in Annex 1.
The Mission identified culture systems which a priori would seem to meet with Government objectives as regards economic viability and social relevance; it evaluated them according to the extent to which they meet Government's objectives for economic and social development at a reasonable cost. The Mission then selected those which could be included in a plan for aquaculture development and developed a policy through which the Ministry of Fisheries could implement such a plan. Lastly, it described, in broad outline, the actions that the Ministry of Fisheries should take during the next two to three years to initiate development of the culture systems comprising the plan. The Mission found it important to cover all the combinations of species and culture techniques which a review of the present state of the art in aquaculture suggests may become candidates, rightly or wrongly, for Government development support. Only a comprehensive survey would make it possible to establish, with reasonable firmness, what the priorities should be for the next few years.
The Mission spent September and October 1980 in Sri Lanka. It visited all active inland fish culture stations and a number of inland and coastal sites, to appraise potential for culture activities. The Mission's itinerary is given in Annex 2. Discussions were held with Government officials and with individuals engaged in, or planning to engage in, aquaculture (see Annex 3). Literature, both published and unpublished, related to aquaculture in Sri Lanka was reviewed in Colombo and Rome (see list in Annex 4).
The Mission's findings and recommendations were reviewed with officials of the Government of Sri Lanka, UNDP and FAO. Agreement in principle was reached on the scope and content of a technical assistance project intended to promote culture of fish in seasonal tanks (see Annex 5). The Mission's full report was forwarded in draft form by FAO to the Government of Sri Lanka at the end of April 1981.
