It was concluded that the countries participating in the workshop have an under-exploited or unexploited potential for developing integrated aquaculture activities in irrigation networks. This potential could be used in particular in irrigated systems dominated by rice production. The International Year of Rice 2004 provides an ideal opportunity to start this type of activities. The main types of constraints to the development of integrated irrigation and aquaculture (IIA) have been identified as institutional, social and economic, as well as technical. Current approaches to IIA development do not facilitate the integration of the two activities, nor do they promote private sector participation. To some extent, information on IIA is available, through experiences from other regions and exploratory studies in West Africa, but IIA technologies remain to be specifically defined and adapted to local contexts. At all levels, communication networks for IIA development are completely missing or not functioning.
Based on these conclusions, many recommendations were made which were organized into the categories that a project planning framework provides, i.e. from conception, planning, operation, monitoring and evaluation, research, to information and communication. The main recommendations are related to the conception, planning and operation of IIA activities. Important recommendations include the formulation of national policies on IIA and pilot projects, the establishment of appropriate institutional and legal frameworks and the strengthening and collaboration of all water user groups (rice farmers and fish farmers and other water users) in order to promote capacity building of all stakeholders (organization, financial and technical management), private fingerling production and distribution and integrated pest and production management practices. Furthermore it is recommended to improve information channels and communication between the relevant authorities, possibly through national networks representing all stakeholders:
Conception
To elaborate a national policy and establish a national plan for integrated irrigation and aquaculture in all irrigation schemes, existing and planned.
To conceive pilot projects.
To create concertation frameworks amongst all stakeholders through:
Establishment of inter-ministerial groups to coordinate IIA activities at regional and national levels.
Organisation of national workshops to sensitise administrators and decision-makers on the potential of IIA.
To create a supportive legal and regulatory framework for IIA development, including an updating of regulatory texts on the management of command areas and a revision of land tenure arrangements to facilitate IIA development.
To carry out a census of, and/or to initiate, private-public partnerships for research, training and promotion of IIA activities.
To promote participatory approaches.
To adopt the necessary precautions to limit the negative impacts of IIA activities and to strengthen environmental protection.
Planning
To plan IIA activities on the basis of findings from previous studies.
To identify priority zones of intervention through:
Inventory all resources and infrastructures to identify IIA potential.
To target beneficiaries, in particular rice cultivators and beneficiaries from IPPM programmes in rice farming.
To proceed with the participatory selection of IIA systems according to the means and characteristics of target groups.
To evaluate needs for, and to facilitate access to, credit for the adoption of IIA technologies.
To review micro-financing schemes and to negotiate preferential rates for IIA producers.
To assess the local availability of inputs for IIA.
To promote integrated watershed management.
Operation
To promote private fingerling production and distribution.
To identify wild seed collection and stocking methods for fish to be raised in command areas.
To establish, or strengthen the role of, management committees representing all local water users.
To increase the funding of extension services.
To promote integrated pest management and community-based predator control.
To establish and apply an equitable water pricing system.
To increase the technical capacity of all stakeholders, with the training of technicians and the strengthening of producers’ capacity for the organisation, technical and financial management of IIA activities.
Monitoring
To set up a scientific and/or community-based system of monitoring and water pollution prevention.
Evaluation
To evaluate the social, economic, environmental and institutional sustainability of IIA systems.
Research
To strengthen the links between research and development.
To identify appropriate rice varieties and fish species.
Information/communication
To set up national networks and improve existing national/international ones.
To carry out information campaigns on IIA activities.
