Aquaculture production in recent years has been dominated by production in the commercial or industrial agricultural sector. There is now a change of emphasis and a general wish within government to involve small-scale farmers in rural areas of the country in integrated fish-farming.
The general social and economic conditions for small-scale farmers in rural areas, in terms of health, education, population trends, levels of poverty and access to markets indicate a clear need to improve living conditions through increasing local production of food.
Such increases can best be achieved by solutions which involve low external inputs and low levels of management.
Integrated fish-farming can contribute to the expansion of food supplies for small-scale farmers and their communities in Zambia and is a form of production sufficiently flexible to be tailored to the particular needs of small-scale farming systems.
A comprehensive and detailed understanding of the farming systems of the small-scale sector is required. Zambia's small-scale sector, which is an important employer of people and source of food for the nation, is generally based on a type of agriculture where development is more complex than in the agro-industrial type of farming practised by the commercial sector. The small-scale sector therefore requires different approaches to the introduction of innovation and change.
Existing, locally-based research programmes and projects into farming systems in Zambia can provide valuable information for integrated fish-farming development, and help to portray the true complexity of the farming societies and identify the reasons for farmers' decisions about production.
A particularly useful contribution of farming systems research has been the identification of specific target groups within the small-scale sector, especially the identification of resource-poor farmers.
Those involved in integrated fish-farming research and development should consult these existing sources of information on local farming systems and collaborate closely with efforts in this area in the future.
The nature of the current systems of the small-scale sector makes it most likely that only relatively low yield fish production systems can be established. These can nevertheless be viable and sustainable. Research and extension approaches should be realistic and aim at improvement of yields rather than attainment of the highest yields which are technically possible.
The focus of research and extension should be diverted towards the aim of finding locally adapted, low external input and low level management solutions for small-scale farmers.
Further development of the Peking duck-cum-fish production system, which has been promoted by the project and which is being operated profitably in the commercial sector, can now be more efficiently and effectively developed by the private sector. Continued close involvement in this development may result in the government research stations being regarded as the main suppliers of ducklings for an expanding industry. For these reasons, the government research service should now reduce its involvement in this system and devote more of its capability towards adaptive research for the small-scale sector.
Initial extension efforts with small-scale farmers confirm the need for low external input and low level management solutions and for a holistic approach with some flexibility in the provision of technical advice.
Future extension has to be based primarily on the existing agricultural extension services.
It is recommended that:
the emphasis of government activity in aquaculture development be directed towards the small-scale farming sector
where they exist, the needs of resource-poor small-scale farmers be identified and special emphasis placed on increasing their productive capabilities
development approaches be based on comprehensive understanding of the types of farming practised within the small-scale sector and of their special potentials and constraints
information on local farming systems already existing in the country by fully utilized
a programme of collaboration with the agencies already involved in farming systems research and development be instigated
training be provided in farming systems approaches and methods for those involved in integrated fish-farming research and development
additional professional staff, trained in farming systems methods, be attached to the government research stations at Mwekera and Chipata
the programme of research be aimed at the identification, testing and adaption of low external input, low level management solutions for small-scale farmers
within the approach to research and development, improved fish yields, rather than the highest technically possible yields, be aimed at
initial lines of investigation for solutions for small-scale farmers include the identification of methods and materials for the local manufacture of feeds and possible changes to farm management practices for livestock, including the Muscovy duck, which will increase the availability and ease of collection of high quality manure for pond fertilization
the government research service reduce its involvement in the further development of the Peking duck-cum-fish production system and promote its transfer to the private sector
the agricultural extension service be given basic training in integrated fish-farming methods and be subsequently used for extension of integrated fish-farming in the small-scale farming sector.
