The general objective of any extension service is to introduce better methods, new techniques, and different, more productive practices to a targeted population. Small scale fish farming is a relatively new activity in Africa. Development of fish farming in rural Africa is promoted as a supplementary protein source, income generation, and diversification of farm activities. The successful, widespread introduction of a new technology such as fish farming requires that a very large number of farmers learn the basic principles involved. In actual practice an extension officer can only train a relatively few number of farmers. This is due to limits of manpower, available time, distance, and the sheer numbers of farmers involved.
Much of the information and knowledge about fish farming passes throughout the rural population by inter-farmer exchange. Initially, a few farmers are trained and begin fish farming. Should the new technology proves beneficial to those farmers, neighbors well attempt to imitate this success. These “second generation” farmers will, more often than not, depend on the first group of farmers for their basic Information, and not the extension agents. The initial group of farmers take pride in being able to teach others. The process can then continue to third and forth “generation” farmers. It is then crucial that correct and appropriate information is given to the initial core of farmers
The development of rural fish farming in Africa has, for the past 20 to 30 years, been largely based on the “Training and Visit” extension approach. Initially a group training of potential fish farmers is done. Fish farming extension officers are then based in the field where they visit individual farmers and assist them with their specific problems. This approach has the following constraints; Fish farming is new to Africa and is relatively complex. It is difficult at best for rural farmers to master all the necessary techniques following a few days in a class room. Further individual assistance is needed. There is, however, a limit to how many individual farmers the extension officer can properly advise. Finally, there may be a creation of an inadvertent dependency of the farmer on the extension officer. The farmer may come to depend on the extension service to provide not only guidance and advice, but also to assist with procurement of fish fingerlings for stocking, feeds, help in sampling and harvesting, and even the sale of fish. The farmers may, in the end, learn enough about fish farming to continue on their own. There is usually no emphasis to help the farmers become self-sufficient. In fact the opposite can often occur. The extension officer may well believe that it is in his own best interests to keep the farmer dependant upon his continued assistance.
An alternative is termed the “Field Day” extension approach. This technique is becomming increasingly popular with rural agricultural extension. Interested farmers are invited to a particular farmers' field or plot and a short, specific topic is demonstrated and discussed. The session takes no more than 1 or 2 hours. The interaction between the farmers and the extension officer allows the later to learn what areas need further support. The interaction between the farmers themselves allows an exchange of ideas, experiences, and further information. A system of mutual support can develop. The end result is an increased general level of knowledge on a specific subject. A single extension officer can conduct frequent field days throughout a region, allowing more contact with more farmers. The major constraint with the field day approach is that there is little time for the extension officer to assist an individual farmer with a specific problem.
The Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) has the mandate to coordinate development activities in the Kenyan portion of the watershed of Lake Victoria. The area has a population in excess of 10 000 000, but covers less than 10 % of the area of Kenya. The Fisheries Division of LBDA has, with the assistance of the BSF, UNDP, and FAO, operated a series of projects over the last 10 years aimed at developing fish farming in the area. The genera! development goal is to create a self-sustaining fish farming industry that is increasingly less dependant on external support.
In 1995, there were about 6,000 practicing small-scale, rural fish farmers in the region. This is a very modest percentage of the population and there is considerable scope for expansion. The management techniques used at the majority of these existing fish farms are still at a very low level. Harvest yields are often below 10 kg/are/year and there is room for substantial improvement. This low level of production is probably the leading cause for the slow increase in the total numbers of fish farmers; the benefits derived from current fish farming management practices are too low to entice others to begin.
The training and visit approach to fish farming extension was used during the first 8 years of project assistance. The field day approach was introduced in 1994, the last year of the FAO/UNDP/BSF Project “Development of Small Scale Fish Farming in the Lake Basin Area, Phase II”. There were 2 principle reasons for this shift in approach. In late 1992 a restructuring exercise at LBDA led to the layoff of nearly 2/3 of the extension staff. The remaining, staff (40 pet sons) were not able to give individual assistance to the several thousand farmers. Secondly, the results obtained through the training and visit technique did not meet expectations, and a new approach was deemed necessary.
The project consolidated and reorganized the extension service during 1993. In 1994, a series of 269 field days were held with a total attendance of over 6 000 existing and 9 000 potential fish farmers as well as some 35 000 students. The genera! objective in the field days held in 1994 was to create a wide-spread awareness of fish farming, introduce practicing fish farmers to new techniques, introduce potential fish farmers to those who have already begun, to assist in the teaching of fish farming in schools, and to familiarize the extension staff with the concept and ways and means of conducting field days.
In 1995, LBDA and the FAO Technical Cooperation Programme executed a project entitled “Support to Rural Aquaculture in Western Kenya, TCP/KEN/5441 (T)”. This project began in April of that year and lasted 7 months. A major component of the project was to continue to support the rural fish farmers in Western Kenya through the field day approach, but with more emphasis on specific, technical aspects of fish farming. The general objective was to increase the production level in existing ponds through better management.
This paper describes the impact of the field day approach on improving fish farming practices in selected areas of Western Kenya. The growing cycle for fish in Western Kenya is 6 to 8 months. The time limits of the TCP project were too short to determine if production levels increased or not, however the improved management practices should lead to higher yields.
