A major task for the Aquaculture for Local Community Development Programme is to identify optimal procedures for using aquaculture as a tool in rural development. The consultant was employed to assist in this task by developing the methodology and content of a survey of Fish-Farmers in Rural Communities. The survey when fully developed and applied should aid government staff in their work with rural fish-farmers.
The consultant visited Zambia from 25 August to 16 September 1987. During that time the objectives of the survey were defined, the methodology and content of the survey developed and subsequently tested in Chipata and Petauke Districts.
The result is a proposal for a survey which will produce two sets of data. The first concerns the Current Situation and Outlook for fish-farm production in the area studied; the second will yield information about the significance of economic, cultural and political factors thought to influence the decisions of fish-farmers with regard to their fish-farming activities.
The consultant recommends that a survey of Fish-Farmers in Rural Communities now be conducted in the Northern Region of Zambia. The proposed survey is a tool, and to be tested correctly, it is of utmost importance that it be done under as close to ideal conditions as possible. The consultant therefore recommends that the survey team include four members, who together have academic backgrounds in aquaculture and one or more social sciences. They should have the use of two 4-wheel drive vehicles. The aquaculturist and the two enumerators (socio-economists) should be able to communicate in the language(s) of the region. The survey should include no less than 130 interviews. If vehicles and personnel are provided as indicated, the field work could be completed in three weeks.
