6.1 Bangladesh
6.2 Vietnam
As stated earlier the TDS approach was designed by the FAO /UNDP Project “Institutional strengthening in the fisheries sector” and subsequently implemented on pilot scale by the FAO project “ Strengthening of Rural Pond Fish Culture Extension Services” (TCP / BGD/4451). The activities started in mid 1990 with the objective of providing extension services to 60 fish farmers to raise their average production from 1,000kg/ha/yr to at least 2000kg/ha/yr. The extension services provided mainly include training of the selected farmers in the technology of semi-intensive carp polyculture and providing technical support through visits to farmer’s pond. The project did not provide any financial or material support to the farmers. As per the designed TDS approach each of the selected 60 fish farmers functioned as RDF to neighboring 10 FFs. The FFs were invited to participate in the training and demonstrations which were carried out in the ponds of RDFs. Most of the 60 RDFs completed their production cycle and achieved an average production over 3,500 Kg/ ha/yr. Very few farmers used supplementary feed. The main features of the technology included appropriate stocking density and stocking ratio, daily manuring, and multiple harvesting and stocking. On the average approximately 50% of the FFs were promoted to RDFs. In accordance with the decisions of the Tri-Partite Review (TPR), the project expanded the activities under the Extension Component. Accordingly, 473 additional RDFs were brought under the project extension services during the second phase thus bringing the total of RDFs and FFs to 533 and 3,806 respectively. There were 22 women RDFs and 20 women FFs under the extension services provided through this approach. As against 15 ha of demonstration pond area which was the objective of the project a total of over 130 ha and 570 ha were brought under demonstration direct (under RDFs) and indirect (under FFs) operation, respectively, achieving an average production of about 3 ton/ha/yr (FAO,1993).
A socio-economic study carried out revealed that sixteen Phase I fish farmers, who had already harvested their fish, achieved an average production of 5,000Kg/ha/yr. Some of the farmers invested their profits in expanding their fish culture activities; while others used the additional income for repairing or building new living accommodation, children’s education and family health care, etc. In addition, all of them consumed more fish than they had before the project.
During this phase of TDS application, 1,262 farmers (RDFs and FFs) were trained on semi-intensive fish culture through pond site in situ practical training. 38 TFOs and AFOs who worked as field level extension personnel/Field Counterparts (FCs) were trained in semi-intensive fish culture technology and extension methodology. In addition, 99 Fisheries officers (DFOs/TFOs/AFOs) of the DOF were trained in extension methodologies related to fish culture and fish seed production, through 4 training courses, one in each Division. At the request of Association of Development Agencies in Bangladesh (ADAB), 45 Fisheries Extension Officers belonging to various NGOs were also trained in fish culture extension.
Subsequently, a pilot scale demonstration of TDS approach was implemented through FAO project “Strengthening Rural Pond Fish Culture Extension” between 1994 and 1996. This project provided opportunity to operate the TDS (Trickle Down System for aquaculture extension) model on a fairly large scale (170 Thanas out of total 460 Thanas of the country) and gave enough scope for field testing and further refinement.
Comprehensive extension training in fish culture were conducted separately for Thana Fishery Officers (TFO), Assistant Fishery Officers (AFO) and Field Assistants (FA). Against the set target of training 100 TFO, 100 AFO and 100 FA, training was imparted to 191 TFO, 148 AFO and 173 FA. Training for management level counterpart officers like Deputy Director (DD), District Fishery Officer (DFO), and Assistant Director (AD), however, was conducted through organizing operational workshop / participatory training at each of the four greater Divisional HQs. Altogether 60 senior GOB counterpart officers (DD, DFO, SAD, AD) were trained against the target of 55.
To give instant start to the field demonstration programme on semi-intensive fish culture , short orientation course followed by field training were also conducted for the counterparts during the very inception phase of the project. A total of 187 GOB Field Counterparts (FCs) participated in the orientation through 6 courses. In addition to this 500 GOB FCs received field training.
Considering the need and request made by the DOF, one day long refresher course was organized at district level for senior officers like DD, DFO, AD, mid level officers like TFO and Fisheries Extension Officer (FEO). Scientific Officer (SO) and junior officers and Staff (AFO and F.A) also participated in this training. A total of 651 senior, mid-level and field-level officers and technical staff (AFO and FA) were trained through 46 refresher courses.
A week long computer training was also conducted for 7 selected HQ officers and staff in the management of demonstration and other extension related information pouring in from the field. They were trained in computer handling, data entry and generation of reports using the two databases developed by the project.
Although training is essentially required for all level of functionaries for overall improvement in their technical, extension and management skill, it is more essential for lower level of extension workers like FA and AFO. During the course of project implementation it was experienced that field level extension support services were provided mainly by these lower level of functionaries. Ironically, very limited training opportunities were available in the past for these field personnel. Introduction of elements like motivation, leadership development, team building and self-development in the course curricula was found quite helpful in making them more confident and committed fisheries extension personnel.
Training for Farmers
Training was organized for both categories of farmers, the Result Demonstration Fish Farmers (RDFs) who were directly involved in the demonstration programme and the neighboring Fellow Fish Farmers (FFs) who were linked to their respective RDF. In situ or pond site practical training for RDFs were conducted in two spells. Altogether 727 and 886 RDFs participated during the first and second spell of the programme respectively against the set target of 500 RDFs .
At the end of the culture operations, when the final results were apparently visible, one day in- situ training was organized at result demonstration pond sites for the linked FFs through method demonstrations and crop display. Against the set target of 2,500 FFs, a total of 6,520 FFs were trained in semi-intensive fish culture.
In situ or pond site training of one day duration created much better impact than traditional several days long class room training. However, repeating similar training after few months of culture operation was found essential for solving emerging technical problems, maintaining the sense of participation, interest and adding further momentum to the programme. Giving importance and opportunity to the RDF in conducting training for their FFs through method demonstrations and crop display under the supervision of the extension officers was found to create tremendous impact and drew greater participation from all categories of farmers.
Demonstration and visit
The project was expected to organize 500 demonstrations on semi-intensive fish culture in farmer’s ponds selected from 100 Thanas of the country. Considering the urgent need for extension services on the one hand and interest, positive attitude, and strong inclination to work voluntarily on the part of the GOB counterpart officers and staff on the other hand, the demonstration programme coverage was extended to 170 Thanas of the country. The number of demonstration in farmer’s (RDFs) ponds also increased to 886 against the set target of 500. Fish farmers were selected as RDF from different strata of the rural society. Most of the ponds were owned by RDFs while considerable number were also taken on lease. Such flexibility in the selection of farmers gave better scope for involving marginal and landless/pondless rural community in the programme.
In accordance with the project document and considering the field reality, regular technical support was provided directly to 886 RDFs through regular pond/home visits by the respective Thana fishery unit and indirectly to over 6,500 FFs through Trickle Down Extension System (TDS) approach.
Special efforts were made to encourage entire family to participate in the demonstration programme. In majority of cases, female members were found to carry out routine daily activities such as daily manuring and feeding, thus giving opportunity to the male members of the family to concentrate on outdoor farming activities.
It is worth noting that all the demonstrations were organized by the RDFs and exclusively through their own resources. No material or credit input assistance was provided either by the project or by the Government. Reducing the role of material input/credit assistance made it easy for the extension officers to concentrate their efforts on providing technical assistance and training. It was concluded that pond fish culture extension service works more efficiently and smoothly when the credit component is kept separate from the scope of extension. The culture technology selected for transfer under the project was low-cost, most of the inputs were by-products of other local farming systems and also gave opportunity to partially harvest the crop within three to four months of rearing, ensuring quick return of the investment made by the farmer. A fish farmer, like any other professional, should start small and gradually intensify his activities as he gains experience.
The semi - intensive fish culture technology selected for demonstration was earlier tried on pilot scale in the field during the preceding project. However, certain adjustments were made for further refinement to make the technology more suitable to the local conditions.
A systematic and organized system was developed for the effective management, monitoring and periodic evaluation of the extension programme ensuring regular and direct technical support to the RDFs. Several formats were developed, field tested and introduced for the collection of various information from the field. Although quarterly reporting system was introduced, the project activities were discussed every month at district, division and HQ levels. To provide operational ease and make the monitoring and evaluation system more efficient, two computer databases were developed by the project. Quarterly reports received from the field were entered and processed using these databases.
Fish production
Final production results received from 701 demonstrations in RDF’s ponds indicated that the average production from these ponds had increased to 4.104 ton/ha/yr. from the initial average production level of 1.461 ton/ha/yr. This had also resulted in the average cost of production rise from initial TK 22.483/ha/yr to TK. 44,235/Ha/yr. However, the benefit cost ratio had also increased from 2.1:1 to 3:1. Incidental to demonstration programme of the project, 282,434 kg of fish was produced (FAO, 1996). Although there was significant increase in the average fish production in demonstration ponds, potential appears to be much higher. It was because of the fact that majority of the RDFs were still in trial stage and were expected to enter into the adoption stage during the next culture cycle. It was also observed that those RDFs, who achieved fish production over 5-6 ton/ha/yr were trying to achieve still higher level of production and profit.
As demonstrated by the project it was quite evident that pond fish production could be increased 3 to 4 times very easily through low cost semi-intensive fish culture technology. Depending upon the input use and level of adoption of technology, some of the RDFs could achieve production to the extent of over 7 tons/ha/yr, indicating that by replacing the traditional culture practice with appropriate low cost semi-intensive fish culture, substantial production increase could be possible. This gap between the existing average production of 1.46 ton/ha/yr and the level achieved by RDFs could be considered as the Extension Gap. By strengthening fish culture extension services, this gap can be reduced resulting in multifold increase in pond production.
Transfer of fish seed rearing technology in rural areas
Consequent to growing popularity of semi-intensive fish culture and large scale open water stocking programme there was increasing demand for seed of native and exotic fish species. At times farmers faced difficulties in collecting the seed of the desired species and size to stock their ponds. It was recommended that 5-10% of the RDFs should be motivated to embark on fish seed production, which was more profitable than producing food fish. This would also ensure ready availability of quality seed in the locality.
International recognition
In recognition of the outstanding performance of the project “ Strengthening of Rural Pond Fish Culture Extension Services” (FAO/TCP/BGD/4451) in developing a system of extension services dissemination through TDS approach, the 1996-97 Edouard Saouma Award was given to the Department of Fisheries of the Government of Bangladesh by FAO in November 1997. The concept of the TDS approach was aimed at the development of self reliance and awareness in the mind of fish farmers about aquaculture by repeated training, demonstration and close supervision by the field level extension personnel. This system of extension provided farmers to farmers extension services through small groups. This programme did not provide cash or input assistance to the farmers. It was observed that farmers to farmers extension services in small groups were more effective.
Follow up Project
Inspired by the results obtained by the FAO/UNDP Project BGD/87/045 and convinced by the results obtained through the follow-up project (FAO/TCP/BGD/4451) on large-scale implementation of aquaculture extension programme in rural ponds through Trickle Down System(TDS) of aquaculture extension, the Government of Bangladesh has started a nation wide follow-up project funded by its own budgetary resources, covering the entire country following the TDS approach. This step is also being viewed as the final step towards institutionalization of fisheries extension under the DOF. All these indicate that the extension approach as well as the technology selected for semi-intensive culture in rural undrainable ponds are fitting well to the local conditions, structural and functional setup of the DOF and the socio-economic and cultural profile of the clientele. The technology as well as the methodology for technology transfer have been found to reinforce each other.
The ongoing follow-up Government of Bangladesh funded project “Thana Level Aquaculture Extension Project” was started in 1996 and covering 400 Thanas of 59 Districts, out of a total of 464 Thanas under 64 Districts in the country. An amount of Taka 71.5 million (US $ 1.58 million) was allocated for this project. This project is expected to enhance annual average production of fish to 3.5 ton/ha in the ponds of Result Demonstrators (RDFs) and 2.5 ton/ha in the ponds of Fellow Farmers (FFs). On the other hand, 79,780 trained farmers will have their part- or full- time jobs as a result of project activities. An average production of 2,833 kg/ha has already been achieved by RDFs and 2,350 kg/ha achieved by the FFs. The project is presently working with 12,000 RDFs and 60,000 FFs. Extension planning is being done through a bottom up approach that starts from village to Thana and to the CEU. All the Thana level field units are given free hands to execute their plan. Necessary resources are also made available to them from the CEU. So far, a total of 72,000 farmers have been trained and benefiting from extension services. The main objective of the project is to institutionalize fish culture extension services in Bangladesh. Recently a mid-term evaluation of the project was conducted jointly by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Planning Commission and the Implementation and Evaluation Division (IMED). The evaluation mission has reported that the project and its approach is most suitable for rural development and recommended for preparing a long term follow-up programme for submission to the Government for its institutionalization (Nazrul Islam, personal communication).
The recently concluded UNDP/FAO project, “Freshwater Fish Culture Extension” (VIE/93/001) has established an aquaculture extension system network in 24 Northern provinces including upland provinces of Lai Chau, Son La and Hoa Binh. The project also employed the participatory aquaculture extension approach known as the “Trickle Down System” (TDS) of aquaculture extension. A large number of demonstrations on family pond fish culture were conducted through the Result Demonstration Farmers (RDFs) which helped in the large-scale transfer of economically viable alternative technology packages to FFs and other farmers including ethnic upland minority communities. The project also conducted studies on the socio-economic and environmental impacts of freshwater aquaculture, and concluded that the project had very good socio-economic impacts; and hat the culture system implemented being low- cost semi-intensive, there was virtually very little or no negative environmental impact.
Through close and regular monitoring and evaluation of the extension programme, the project had successfully developed effective and practical extension techniques and approach based on active participation of the farmers themselves. TDS extension of aquaculture strategy emphasizing farmer to farmers approach with active participation of RDFs was employed with encouraging response from the farming communities. After receiving training and after being selected as RDF they took up demonstration of the selected aquaculture technology packages in their own ponds/culture facilities through mobilization of the required inputs exclusively from their own resources. Subsequently, these farmers were also provided regular extension support through home/pond visits by the extension workers at regular intervals. These RDFs were encouraged to act as local extension agent and that made them feel important. They took pride in assisting their FFs and got pleasure in advising other farmers who came to seek their help. Inspired and impressed by watching the results of demonstration, many of the FFs took up demonstration of similar nature. This programme provided equal participation for extension workers and the farmers. The techniques of individual training through home and pond visits of the RDFs and group contacts through RDFs to FFs training and demonstration were found to be cost effective and efficient. Through this approach there was an active flow of knowledge and information from the extension workers to RDFs and from the RDFs to FFs and the local community. The number of RDFs was increased from 120 in 1995/96 to about 800 in 1996/97 (FAO,1998).
Capacity building at the institution as well as the community levels were given greater emphasis. In addition to initial orientation programme for about 90 Senior Provincial level Chief of DOF (Department of Fisheries)/Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DOARD), the project also conducted comprehensive training for large number of provincial and field level extensionists. A total of 994 extensionists / fisheries officers and farm managers were trained in aspects of aquaculture technology, technology transfer and human resources management. Out of the total, 352 participants (35.41%) were women. Similarly, 195 field based instructional training of 3 days duration each were organized. A total of 7,503 farmers, RDFs and FFs were trained including 1,268 women farmers.
The project developed 16 instructional bulletins on various aquaculture technology packages and techniques including VAC (family farm level integration) system for farmers. These brochures had been written in simple and instructional form with the help of suitable illustrations. Besides, several low cost training tools were developed for the extension workers and RDFs.
The results from the first spell of demonstrations conducted by the RDFs clearly indicated sharp increase in fish yield from 1.08 t/ha/yr to over 6 t/ha/yr in certain cases, and about 3.5t/ha/yr in average against the project target of 1,200-1,300 kg/ha/yr. There was marked increase in income level from fish farming component ranging from 75% to about 300%. The terminal tripartite (TPR) review of the project observed that the project was highly successful and that the extension approach followed by the project was one of the most important contributory factor. One woman Result Demonstrator Farmer of the project was awarded the UN Certificate of Merit by the UN Secretary-General, on the occasion of the International Day of Poverty Alleviation, held in New York, on 17 October, 1997.
Experience gained from the project convinced the UNDP and the Government that semi-intensive family scale aquaculture was an important tool for poverty reduction and fighting malnutrition among the growing children and women and also for empowering women. Accordingly, UNDP and the Government of Vietnam have approved a similar project for the development of upland communities of three Northern provinces. The project would be implemented by FAO.
