The main justification for ALCOM was that aquaculture, despite the demand for fish and the availability of certain culture technologies, had not developed as expected in many developing countries. Programme was therefore set up to identify methodologies for the development of more appropriate aquaculture technologies. The Programme followed an extension approach with strong participation of the rural population.
The main conclusion of the Programme was that aquaculture has been successfully adopted as an introduced innovation, and proven to contribute to family income and/or nutrition. For this to happen, it demonstrated to be necessary to use a flexible approach where messages were designed to fit the priorities and means of the beneficiaries. However, for further expansion beyond the pilot stage the main problem is situated at the institutional level. Without referring to this problem, sustainable development can not be expected.
Important Results
Aquaculture was introduced as an extensive or semi intensive activity, that fitted in the strategy of risk avoidance instead of profit maximization, and as an additional farming activity and not a specialization.
Fish were raised in earthen ponds, which were in most cases constructed by the farmer and family members.
Pond sizes fluctuated according to local conditions. The main reasons for the small fish ponds were the unavailability of labour, water and land, and the steep topography of the area.
Local cichlids were selected as the species to use, introduction of exotics was not considered necessary. The fish production was in first instance determined by the level of management, and less by the ultimate performance potential of the species.
A main concern for farmers was the issue of obtaining fingerlings for stocking of ponds. Farmers wanted to be independent from outside sources, and the accessibility and timely availability of seed was more important than the assumed improved quality of the fingerlings from government stations.
Inbreeding was not an issue of concern, while the selection towards slower growing fish was considered a genuine risk in ponds that are never drained and only partially harvested.
Fingerlings became available in all areas from local producers. Where the water supply was insufficient to keep ponds full during every dry season, farmers depended during years with low precipitation on government to supply fingerlings, which resulted often in unstocked ponds.
All ponds received inputs to raise the natural production. Amounts, types, and frequency of application varied considerably between the different sites and farmers.
Ponds located closer to the homesteads were often smaller, but received more intensive management than ponds located further away.
Intermittent harvesting of ponds was the most common harvesting practice in all areas. The main objective for starting fish farming was to have a ready supply of fish for consumption, intermittent harvesting permitted this objective.
Ponds were only drained when there was no shortage of water in the area.
Economic calculations revealed that fish production was more profitable than the production of other crops, and comparable with rotated irrigated crops with three harvests a year.
The price per kilogram of fish reduced after individual fish weights reached 70 grams. It was therefore not necessary to aim at high final weights of the fish, or to introduce special management techniques aimed at producing large fish.
The adopted aquaculture systems, had no averse impact on the environment.
The privately owned fish ponds, did not increase the prevalence of schistosomiasis. Properly constructed and well managed ponds offered little habitat for the vector snails while the restricted access to ponds by other people limited the risk of the transfer of parasites.
The issue of introductions and translocations of aquatic species called for an integrated and holistic approach towards water management and encompasses much more than fish alone.
Fish farmers were not considered significantly more or less wealthy than other farmers in the same area.
Fish farmers were predominantly male, few women started fish farming. Special emphasis on women in extension activities increased the female ownership of fish ponds.
The Programme achieved most impact where it was directly involved in the implementation of pilot projects.
The combined activities of implementation of pilot projects and information service resulted in a general change in attitude towards the development, and appreciation of aquaculture in the region. The Technical Consultations played an significant role in this process.
The training of agriculture extension staff alone did not result in the spreading of fish farming.
Most agriculture extension staff did not consider aquaculture part of their official duties, and whether they provided information to farmers depended greatly on the individual interest and dedication.
The aquaculture and fisheries activities were in most countries under the authority of a department or ministry other than that responsible for the agriculture extension services. This hampered integration of aquaculture and agriculture extension.
Farmer to farmer information dissemination performed well, information was provided to friends and relatives and spread in some cases over relatively long distances. Several farmers actively informed others and supplied fingerlings to new farmers, and in some areas organized monthly meetings to discuss fish farming problems.
ALCOM demonstrated the need for the integration of extension services, and created awareness for it amongst the member countries. There is, however, still the need to develop mechanisms of determining how the developed methodology can be integrated into existing extension services that use different extension approaches, or how existing services can be altered to adopt the developed methodology.
It remains doubtful whether the existing extension services are adequately equipped to provide farmers with the necessary information. Most agriculture extension services follow the Training and Visit approach, which does not allow for flexible messages for minor croos that are only grown in specific areas.
Recommendations
Based on the results and conclusions of the ALCOM Aquaculture Programme it is recommended that:
the regional transfer of knowledge related to aquaculture development will remain centralized within a well defined institution.
SADC will request a continuation of the ALCOM Programme with new objectives. It should work towards the full institutionalization of the Programme within the SADC structure and expand its regional activities.
the departments of fisheries integrate their activities with other departments that focus on areas with similar conditions and on the same target group.
extension efforts are focused on areas with high potential for fish farming, adopt the methodology developed by ALCOM for the identification of technology and extension methods, and identify suitable extension mechanisms for future expansion.
aquaculture development focus on the mechanisms for the transfer of information to smallholder farmers. On-station research towards new culture technologies for this group of farmers should at this moment not be given high priority.
aquaculture staff receives the same formal training as agriculture staff, and that more emphasis is given to the economic and social factors that determine technology adoption, and to the use of participatory approaches during these trainings.
